On August 19, the Mattapoisett Planning Board met with Gabrielle Belfit of Tighe and Bond, an engineering firm which specializes in geotechnical, electric and mechanical, civil and environmental engineering and consulting services, as well as provides technology and sustainability services. The town, under the leadership of Water and Sewer Superintendent Henri Renauld, engaged the firm to assist in necessary updates to the town’s Hazard Mitigation Plan.

            Renauld explained the importance of updating the plan every five years is to keep open the gateway to grant financing for water and sewer projects, as well as other types of municipal assets. Belfit stated, “Once the plan is complete and has been accepted by FEMA and the state, it unlocks funds.”

            The detailed presentation covered the topics contained within the plan, such as local plans and regulations, structures and infrastructures, natural systems and public education and awareness programs.

            In a follow-up, Town Administrator Mike Lorenco concurred that grant funding generally requires local buy-in, be it a plan to mitigate various types of hazards or matching funds. In the case of grant funding for impacts related to the environment, towns need documented plans. Local plans, Belfit said, tie into the state’s mitigation plans which, she added, were recently updated.

            A large portion of the document will be dedicated to impacts and mitigations where Mother Nature has dealt a costly blow. Identified for Mattapoisett were coastal erosion, storm surge, wind damage, tornados, hurricanes and temperature extremes. Flood potentials were explored for municipal structures and associated economic impacts.

            Lorenco said that the full presentation will be posted to the town’s website in the coming days. He also noted that the public is invited to share their views on the topics of hazard mitigation by completing the questionnaire located on the town’s website.

            In other matters, the board approved the definitive subdivision proposed by William Mansfield, 0 Harbor Acres Road and the holding of a lot located in the Park Lane development in lieu of an $18,500 surety.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board is scheduled for Monday, September 16, at 7:00 pm.

Mattapoisett Planning Board

By Marilou Newell

The Rochester School Committee met briefly on August 19 for the purpose of approving changes to the Student Handbook for the 2024-25 academic year and approved changes.

            Committee member Robin Rounseville had requested language be included that spells out the “opt-out” option that parents/guardians have regarding their children’s ability to check out any library book similar to the language used for opting out of photographs.

            The new procedure would be for parents/guardians to send an email to the librarian with the title of any book a child is not to check out, and it will be recorded and managed at the school, according to Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson.

            Committee member Anne Fernandes, attending the meeting remotely, requested the phase “check out” be revised to “access” to prevent the child from viewing the book irrespective of checking it out. Rounseville asked Fernandes how that would be accomplished from a practical standpoint.

            Rounseville strongly disagreed with Fernandes’ recommendation, asserting that denying access altogether would be too cumbersome a duty for staff to carry out given all their responsibilities. Chairperson Sharon Hartley agreed with Rounseville’s concern that education would be difficult to conduct amidst a constant watch for unauthorized book access.

            Member Josh Trombly took issue with a subsequent statement saying the absence of such an opt-out email would be taken as an assumption the child may access a book. He suggested making opt-out language more specific. The members agreed with his suggestion and to include a link to the opt-out procedure.

            Fernandes said she understands it’s impossible to follow children around the library but reemphasized her concern about certain books’ accessibility. Fernandes would make the lone dissenting vote against acceptance of the Student Handbook as written and revised at the August 19 meeting. Hartley, Rounseville, Trombly and Kate Duggan voted to accept the Student Handbook.

            Introducing the topic, Nelson referred to the committee’s last meeting in which the committee requested review of certain policies.

            “There were some questions around whether the fees were going to be updated around technology replacement or damages. We opted to keep our fees the same for this year,” said Nelson.

            The next meeting of the Rochester School Committee was not announced upon adjournment.

Rochester School Committee

By Mick Colageo