Two more new solar energy facility projects came before the Rochester Planning Board on the long night of November 9, when the meeting went roughly three hours into the night.

Rochester is becoming familiar with the nature of the solar project proposal process, and residents, one by one, are becoming more knowledgeable on the subject, too.

Some abutters to a solar farm proposed by Melink Corporation off Snipatuit Road over near Quaker Lane were getting their first lesson in solar farm development and planning, raising many of the same questions abutters to other projects have had. What about screening? Are solar panels toxic? And a new one, aren’t the tree stumps left behind after clear-cutting full of toxic chemicals?

Engineer Rich Rheaume addressed each abutter’s concern, including abutter John Hall’s concern over the size of the rocks the excavators will surely encounter, he said.

“They’re gonna find icebergs,” said Hall, concerned mostly about the amount of heavy truck traffic that would ensue after enormous rocks – too large to keep on the property – would be removed down the 18-foot gravel drive right against his property line. “There’s no space to store rocks,” continued Hall. “I’ve been very vocal about this … my property line, you don’t mess with that.”

Rheaume suggested the method of affixing the panels to the rock would be sufficient, screwing the panels into the rock with what he called a “fairly narrow screw, like a sheetrock screw,” to which Hall scoffed. Rheaume assured Hall that the project would undergo a thorough geotechnical review before construction.

The site plan, as Rheaume described it, calls for eight acres of a 16-acre parcel to be cleared for rows of solar arrays, which will abut a roughly 100-acre parcel of land Melink offered to the Town as a donation for open spaces, which the town recently accepted.

The plan calls for a no-touch 50-foot area of the eastern perimeter of the site, plus an additional double row of Leyland cypresses, with a 6-foot chain-link fence surrounding the site for security. All work will be kept outside the 100-foot wetlands buffer to avoid certain filings with the Conservation Commission.

The project has received approval from the Mattapoisett River Valley Water Supply Protection Advisory Committee and, due to the presence of eastern box turtles, has filed with the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program and is awaiting approval.

One resident was not happy about the project, saying she never would have purchased her house 11 years ago if she knew a solar farm would eventually be built behind it.

Other neighbors had concerns over the length of the gravel drive and the gate that would be placed 100 feet down the road, which might be just long enough to appeal to those engaging in unsavory nighttime activities. Because the Town insisted on having the entry down the gravel road to accommodate a few public parking spaces for access to the newly acquired conservation land, the gate could not be put at the entrance on Snipatuit Road. Planning Board Chairman Arnold Johnson said 24-hour video surveillance might deter trespassers, even those trying to use ATVs at the site.

Johnson gave Rheaume a short list of what he wanted to see by the next meeting, which included things such as a more detailed landscaping outline and some simple “housekeeping” of paperwork. The hearing was continued until December 8, allowing enough time for the board’s peer review process and to ensure all members of the board would be present.

In other matters, a familiar player in the solar farm field was again before the board, this time for an informal review of a proposed solar farm to be located at 268 Mattapoisett Road, near the corner with New Bedford Road.

Clean Energy Collective, developers of the Clemishaw property solar farm, is interested in developing seven acres of a 12-acre lot for solar arrays. During this informal meeting with Clean Energy Collective Project Manager Greg Carey, the board granted a few waivers the developer requested, such as waiving the requirement to flag every tree of a 12-inch caliber or greater. Three utility poles will be allowed within the first 100 feet of the entrance, and a waiver for open space requirements was granted, but the board chose to hold off on granting a waiver for stormwater management.

“We’re getting more and more familiar with solar,” said Clean Energy Collective’s engineer Bob Rogers as he moved ahead into the minutiae of the project, similar details he has presented to the board before for other solar projects.

Also during the meeting, the board approved a request for an amendment to the site plan review approval for Rochester Crossroads at the intersection of Routes 58 and 28. The company recently acquired an abutting property and will now grade the land instead of having to build a retaining wall. All other details remain unchanged.

The board ratified the written decision for the Clean Energy Collective proposed solar farm at the Clemishaw property in Marion, with the access road to the facility located at 99 Perry’s Lane. After a number of continued hearings over the past few months, the project finally received Rochester’s official approval after bouncing back and forth between Marion and Rochester.

There was a lengthy discussion over the current draft of the sign bylaw the Bylaw Subcommittee has been working on. Although in the end the board voted to move forward with deferring the new language to the selectmen, one resident was vocal about government taking away residents’ constitutional right to free speech.

“I don’t like clutter,” said David Ecker. Some signs are ugly, but he does feel strongly about people’s absolute and total right to express their views.

Ecker specifically opposed language addressing political signs, which mandates that political party/candidate signs must be removed within 48 hours of an election. Ecker opposed restricting any resident’s rights further with this bylaw, but did not realize that the 48-hour rule was already written in the current bylaw. The new language simply tweaked language about not allowing campaign signs before one month leading up to an election – a change, said Johnson, “that riled some of the town officials.”

The new limited commercial district bylaw was also slightly changed as it pertains to solar energy installations after some trial and error with the proposed solar farm for a plot of woods between New Bedford Road and Dexter Lane.

Johnson said the new language includes a provision that would mandate an absolute no-touch 20-foot buffer around the perimeter of the project, and the landscaping section of the bylaw would be amended to further mitigate the cutting of trees of a 12-inch caliber or greater.

The public hearing for the Renewable Generation LLC solar energy project slated for New Bedford Road was continued until November 18.

The next meeting of the Rochester Planning Board is scheduled for November 18 at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Senior Center on Dexter Lane.

By Jean Perry

The topic for many residents in Marion has been what to do and how much to spend on bringing the town house into the 21^st century and beyond.

The need has been demonstrated, a committee has done research and held months of study and public meetings, and numerous options have been explored – but in the end, cost seems about to trump desire.

Built in 1890, one of several buildings in the area funded by well-known benefactor Elizabeth Taber, the Marion Town House has long been a cornerstone building serving the needs of a community passionate about its Victorian village character. However, during the Town House Building Committee meeting on November 5 – held in the Marion Music Hall, another iconic building– it was not clear that taxpayers were willing to open their wallets wide enough to fund a multi-million dollar construction project.

Committee Chairman Robert Raymond, along with architect Peter Turowski of T2 Architecture and his team, presented residents with two conceptual plans that have been selected out of a field of eight possibilities. They cited numerous current building code violations and the costs associated with maintaining decrepit buildings as critical issues for the residents to consider.

Raymond presented the two concepts that the committee believes meet the needs of the community.

Concept A offers a rehabilitation plan primarily for the town house with an aesthetically-pleasing addition at the back of the building and additional parking. Concept A is pegged at just over $12 million with an average taxpayer impact of about $188 per year.

Concept B is a grander idea involving both the town house and the library with full-scale rehabilitation, additions to each historic structure, and a connector building joining the two properties. The connector building could be used for a variety of functions including space for the Council on Aging and also features new parking areas. Concept B is estimated at $28 million with an average tax impact of approximately $421.

“Have you guys really looked into how this thing is going to fit into this town?” questioned resident Ted North. Financial spreadsheets in hand, he said that current and future expenses the town faces came in at a whopping $163,000,000, continuing, “and now you have prosed $21 million for a town house project!” He concluded, “If you look at a twenty year net value that becomes $25,000 or $35,000 per taxpayer.”

Raymond replied, “We were just asked to look at the town house, library and Council on Aging.” He said the project has some flexibility, noting that the buildings “aren’t going to fix themselves,” and that, as time passed, construction costs would only rise. He said the committee would be talking to the selectmen about applying for state grants and other funding sources to relieve some of the financial burden taxpayers would face.

“This project falls into historic restoration … it should be paid for with private money,” said North. “If these buildings are so important to Marion, then a foundation should be established to raise private money,” he said.

The mood of the audience seemed to echo North’s, until it came to the question of tearing down the town house and building new, an idea floated out by resident Stephen Kokkins. “Tearing down and replicating it so that Mrs. Taber from fifty feet away wouldn’t know the difference … is a less expensive option,” Kokkins asserted.

Most, however, agreed with resident Bill Saltonstall.

“I’m in favor of trying to preserve the building,” said Saltonstall.

Raymond said the committee would continue to engage the public moving forward as they prepare to put the future of the town house and library to the voters at Town Meeting.

By Marilou Newell

With an agenda full of promising energy economies and alternative energy opportunities, Marion Energy Management Committee member Jennifer Francis presented another intriguing idea: electric cars for municipal use.

What Francis had discovered was a state program that provides incentives for eligible public and private entities to acquire electric vehicles, as well as the installation of charging stations, at reduced cost.

In speaking with Evan Melillo, administrative assistant to the Dartmouth town administrator, Francis learned the complexities of the state grant process. She told the committee members that Melillo was successful in completing the grant paperwork for Dartmouth. Since August, Dartmouth has been using several electric cars that have been largely paid for by the state incentive program. She said charging stations are part of the program, making use of the alternative energy vehicles more viable.

The committee members discussed which town departments might benefit from use of the compact car styles. They thought that such departments as the Board of Health, building inspector, and possibly the Police Department detectives might fit best for these economy automobiles. They also discussed the cost benefits of selling off older gas-powered vehicles versus paying for ongoing maintenance.

Francis will invite Melillo to a meeting in the next two months to learn more about the process. Melillo has offered his service to the town.

In other matters, committee member Eileen Marum reported on her efforts to draft a comprehensive energy management document that will contain such language as Marion’s intention to lead by example, to become a leader in energy management in the southeast. Furthermore, that town departments should measure energy-saving initiatives and all town departments should participate in the process are issues that are also addressed.

Member Bill Saltonstall brought the group up to date on the massive wind turbine project currently being constructed in Plymouth by Con Edison. He said Marion’s designated turbine would be completed in the coming weeks.

“It’s really very exciting and should result in 20 to 30 percent reduction to the town,” Saltonstall said. The cost savings will be realized by the municipality for its power consumption.

The committee is also looking at solar options, but await updated information on two solar projects – one proposed for Tucker Road in Rochester and one at the Benson Brook transfer station in Marion.

The next meeting of the Marion Energy Management Committee is scheduled for November 23 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Music Hall located at 164 Front Street.

By Marilou Newell

In response to some parental concern over how sixth grade novels are chosen, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum Dr. Elise Frangos on November 4 presented information on the reasoning and judgment of appropriateness behind selecting assigned literature, giving Marion School Committee members reassurance of the process.

In the past, said Frangos, “Teachers selected books they loved and kind of imposed [them].”

“Well, now it’s a whole new ballgame,” Frangos continued.

Books now are selected as the teaching curriculum changes and evolves. And as school districts statewide prepare for an eventual review and revamp of the social studies curriculum, which has not been overhauled in years, aspects of current events and topics are often considered along with the reading curriculum for a most comprehensive and relevant read for students.

Selections for this year include Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper, the novel Lost Boy, Lost Girl by Peter Straub, and The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis.

“Each of these books is about heroism … and resiliency,” said Frangos. And they each touch upon the polarizing aspects of human existence that keep us separate until differences are faced and conquered.

“As a parent, I can see why some questions have come up,” said Marion School Committee Chairman Christine Marcolini. Some of the books, she said, contained some pretty heavy subject material. “As parents, it’s natural to worry, ‘How’s my child going to react to this?’”

Marcolini suggested the schools poll the students after reading each book to get a feel for their personal takeaway from the novels. She commented that sometimes a parent expects a child to take away something negative from a novel, “But then that’s not what the kids take away with them at all.”

“I think that could be quite telling,” replied Frangos, in favor of Marcolini’s suggestion.

Sometimes, said School Committee member Christine Winters, parents just want to know.

Director of Student Services Michael Nelson announced some changes to school policy and the student handbook at the suggestion of the Department of Education during its assessment of the district. First, under the bullying policy, school staff and school employees will be added as possible aggressors in bullying incidents, and the physical restraint policy was updated to include more staff training, the prohibition of seclusion, and the limitation of prone position (face down) restraint.

The next meeting of the Marion School Committee is scheduled for December 2 at 6:30 pm at the Marion Town House.

By Jean Perry