The Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen reopened their December 15 license hearing for the Hillside Motel during their January 12 meeting.

“You’ve been very busy making improvements and fixing things,” stated Selectmen Chairman Jordan Collyer as he welcomed motel owner Sonya Patel to the conference table.

At the December hearing, numerous deficiencies were reported to the board by the police, fire, and building departments. On this night, each department head spoke of Patel’s accomplishments in cleaning up the Hillside Motel.

Police Chief Mary Lyons said, “We’ve had four calls since the last meeting.” She said most of those calls concerned one single guest who has since been removed from the property. Patel is also providing the police department with photocopies of identification for all new guests.

Fire Chief Andrew Murray reported that he was satisfied with the fire alarm repairs and replacements, and noted that all previous safety concerns had been fixed. Patel also said that she has employed a contractor to maintain the fire alarms.

Director of Inspectional Services Andy Bobola stated, “All violations from the December report have been corrected.” He added, “The Patels have been forthcoming and cooperative.”

He said Patel plans to repair the parking lot in the spring, at which time all issues he had previously reported will be resolved.

Board of Health Agent Dale Barrows, in a written note to Town Administration Michael Gagne, wrote, “…The state sanitary code allows 60 days for problems to be corrected … I will check in February…”

Collyer asked the town officials if they were satisfied with the general cleanliness of the rooms and the property. All acknowledged good improvements.

Collyer told Patel, “By instituting these programs, word will get out fast that you’ve changed the business model.” He repeated, “I’m pleased to see what’s come out of this.”

Rather than vote to approve a full-year license, the selectmen voted to grant a 120-day permit with a review at the end of May to ensure that improvements and changes in the way the motel is being operated continue on the right course.

Collyer had one final comment for Patel: “We’ll be checking up on you.”

Earlier in the evening, a joyous group, the six-members of the Vieira family, came into the meeting so that Victor and Donna Vieira could be recognized by the selectmen for their courageousness and open arms in adopting four children in 2015.

“This is humanity at its best,” said Collyer. “People should see that people like you do exist!” With everyone smiling, Collyer said, “Thank you for what you do.”

Also being recognized was Henri Renauld, the newly promoted Water and Sewer Superintendent. Renauld has been a member of the department for 27 years.

A hearing with Eversouce was continued until January 26. The utility, represented by Eversource staff member Donna Rosa, was asked to return with a better solution and more technical information for stub poles they propose to install on River Road at the junction of Randall Road. These stabilizing poles, along with utility pole replacements along River Road, are planned to accommodate system upgrades needed to support the new solar array planned for Crystal Spring Road.

Gagne reported that review of the town’s $20 million budget has begun in preparation for the May 9 Annual Town Meeting. The selectmen asked Gagne to set up appointments with all department heads so they may vet each budget fully in advance of the warrant.

In other matters, Gagne said any snow bans ordered by the state or by the town will be announced on all available venues such as TV, radio, Facebook, and the town’s website.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen is scheduled for January 26 at 7:00 pm in the Mattapoisett Town Hall conference room.

By Marilou Newell

As the large-scale solar farm project slated for the center of Rochester progresses, abutters and concerned citizens are beginning to learn that any possibility of halting the project lies not with the Rochester Planning Board, but with the Rochester Historic District Commission – and now, as they learned on January 12, the Board of Health could be the latest cloud in the skies above the project.

The distance of a stormwater filtration system from a neighboring septic system had Planning Board Chairman Arnold Johnson pointing out that the 95 feet was well under the town’s bylaw of 200 feet of a filtration system from a septic system, which also fell under the jurisdiction of the Board of Health.

The engineer for the Renewable Energy Massachusetts LLC project pointed out that the state regulation only requires 50 feet but, nonetheless, the Board of Health would still have to issue the project a waiver for the distance shortage.

“We would defer to the Board of Health,” said Johnson, “because if we waive it and the Board of Health doesn’t, then they can’t build it.”

This perked up the ears of some of the residents in attendance who wanted to be sure that, as abutters, they would be notified of any future Board of Health public hearing for the matter. Town Counsel Blair Bailey reassured them that they would.

“If they (the Board of Health members) don’t waive it, it means they (the applicants) have to push everything back (away from the septic system),” said Planning Board member Ben Bailey.

As for the Historic District Commission, regardless of a Planning Board approval for the Special Permit for the solar farm project, it still needs to issue the project a certificate.

“They don’t have the potential to change the project. It’s either ‘you can see it or can’t you see it,’” said Johnson. Under the regulations, the project cannot be visible from a public way. “They could say, ‘We can see it,’” continued Johnson, and the commission could render a negative determination. “And then that might force them (the applicants) to come back to us.”

Having said that, the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program actually could go ahead and change the plan, even after Planning Board approval, which is why, said Johnson, the board prefers to wait until Natural Heritage completes its permitting process.

The Planning Board, however, still maintains control over screening, and Johnson made sure that notes to the plan specifically granted “approval” of plant material as “Planning Board approval.”

Screening and site lines remain significant concerns of abutters; however, one significant change to the plan lies in the 20-foot no-touch vegetative border near the historic cemetery off Dexter Lane. Amelia Tracy of NextSun Energy said there would be staggered plantings near the 20-foot buffer, adding, “We’re really not going to touch it,” referring to trees within the no-touch vegetative boarder, an area of contention in previous meetings.

Some Planning Board members wondered if the project’s proposed method of using a feller buncher to remove selected trees was appropriate, and Johnson also called for a higher sum for a decommissioning escrow account. Johnson was dissatisfied with the proposed $60,000 and called for a number closer to a somewhat similarly sized solar project’s sum of $89,000. Tracy agreed to revisit the number.

Other details discussed were hours of construction, which will be limited to Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The board also wanted the plan to specifically state that no jackhammering would be allowed during the installation of the solar arrays, limiting installation to augering or screwing only. Johnson also called for a landscaping bond.

The public hearing was continued until January 26.

Also during the meeting, a solar farm project proposed by Melink Corporation for Snipatuit Road was continued until January 26 as it inches closer to approval with every detail that is altered along the way to please the board.

The next meeting of the Rochester Planning Board is scheduled for January 26 at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Senior Center on Dexter Lane.

By Jean Perry

During the January 12 meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission, Environmental Agent Elizabeth Leidhold reported that the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection was appealing the commission’s December 12 decision that approved the test borings at the bike path site.

At that December meeting, the commissioners had issued an Order of Conditions to the Mattapoisett Bike Path Committee for test borings, another technical step being mandated by the Department of Transportation on Phase 1B of the bike path. These tests are required by the DOT before the committee can receive the state’s approval to move forward into engineered drawings for a pedestrian bridge over sensitive wetlands abutting Goodspeed Island.

The objective of the borings is to confirm the presence of bedrock along the proposed length of the bridge to ensure a solid base for pilings. Previous borings were felt to be insufficient by the DOT.

Speaking against the town’s application at the December meeting were several abutters airing their concerns that more studies should be mandated before test borings are approved. Through their attorney, they filed a lengthy document.

At that time, Conservation Commission Chairman Bob Rogers acknowledged that the commission’s issuance of conditions for testing would most likely be appealed to the DEP. Leidhold confirmed the appeal at the January 12 meeting.

Abutter Daniel DaRosa, a resident on Goodspeed Island, filed the appeal with the DEP.

Without further comment on this night, Rogers noted that most likely there would be further public hearings on this matter.

In another matter, Leidhold told the commissioners that Seabreeze resident Robin Lapore had approached her regarding a desire on the part of residents in the subdivision to have a dock constructed on the edge of Eel Pond. Lapore was requesting a meeting with Leidhold to discuss the matter and to receive feedback from the agent on the best place to position a dock.

Rogers said, “They should get a consultant or environmental engineer should be engaged; this is not our role.” He concluded, “If anything, we’d be discouraging a dock.”

Earlier in the evening, the commission approved an Order of Conditions for an application filed by Jeffrey Jordan, 4 North Street, for the construction of a covered patio.

The commission also issued an Order of Conditions to Sara Gowing, 1 Avenue A, for the replacement of an existing seawall.

They also met with Nils Johnson, proprietor of The Inn On Shipyard Park, for rehabilitation work. The scope of work is the demolition of the existing porch, slight expansion of the footprint, and a level entrance from the new porch to the interior of the inn. Johnson received a negative determination on his Request for Determination of Applicability application, meaning a Notice of Intent for the project is not required.

A Certificate of Compliance was issued to Dean Whitla, 68 Fairhaven Road, for work associated with a septic system replacement.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission is scheduled for January 25 at 6:30 pm in the Mattapoisett Town Hall conference room.

By Marilou Newell