Town administrators and the Rochester School Committee have finally agreed on a number for the Rochester Memorial School fiscal year 2017 budget, which was approved on April 7 after a short presentation of the FY17 budget.

The budget is up roughly $140,000 from last year to about $5.8 million, a 2.4 percent increase.

“We’ve been able to sustain the majority of the positions or make switches within the program to move people where they will be more effective and serve more kids,” said Superintendent Doug White. “I think there’s been some good adjustments to this over the previous year and it makes us stronger, but there hasn’t been a lot of reduction…”

Driving the budget up were staff contractual obligations and an increased need for educational equipment; however, a few decreases in needs, such as a reduction in utility costs, a decrease in transportation costs, and special education services, kept the budget from climbing too high.

In other matters, the School Committee voted to opt-out of the school choice program for the next school year.

“I believe under our current structure and how our class sizes are set up, unfortunately … I would recommend that we don’t participate in school choice moving forward for this current school year … and making sure that we sustain and maintain the education for the students of Rochester,” said White.

School Committee members were quick to concur with White before a unanimous vote. School Committee member Jennifer Kulak said she was already supportive of foregoing school choice for next year and others agreed.

“The same goes for me,” said School Committee member Robin Rounseville. “I went and looked at class sizes, and we are not in a good place (to continue school choice).”

The next meeting of the Rochester School Committee is scheduled for May 5 at 6:30 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.

By Jean Perry

Parents, school staff, and Marion School Committee members alike are troubled by a reduction in physical education slated for the next school year at Sippican School that will bring two phys ed sessions per week down to just one.

On April 6, school administration presented the mostly level-service $5.86 million fiscal year 2017 Sippican School budget to the public, and they faced some backlash over cutting one .5 phys ed teacher position.

One staff member and town resident, Kelly Kelleher, said she appreciates the budget constraints, but said cutting PE down from two to one gym class per week could affect the health and wellbeing of the children.

“I’m just so afraid that if we cut the .5 position, we won’t get it back,” said Kelleher. “I just hope it can’t die here on the floor today.”

School Committee Chairman Christine Marcolini said she agreed one-hundred percent.

“I don’t want you to think that because that position is something that we’re not funding is something that we don’t want to do,” Marcolini said. “At the end of the day, we had to make some very difficult decisions … about what battles we’re going to fight, and for us, it did come down to [smaller class sizes].”

Marcolini continued, “I don’t want the perception that we’re not taking our kids’ health very, very seriously because we are…. At the end of the day, we only have the money that we have to work with, and right now we’re doing the best we can with what we have now.”

Driving the roughly $230,000 budget increase this year were a number of factors, including a $15,000 increase to provide transportation for students to Bristol County Agricultural High School that was once provided by a Rochester Senior Center van. Day tuition was up $150,000 and residential tuition, $60,000. A main factor this year was a restructuring in the way the school district uses circuit breaker money, which is money the state refunds to the town for unforeseen costly increases in special education during the school year.

Some suggested that perhaps an extra recess could make up for the physical exercise throughout the week, but Sippican School Principal Lyn Rivet explained that the time students are in specialist class is time allotted for curriculum planning as mandated in the teacher contract.

Superintendent Doug White told inquiring attendees of the meeting that residents could petition the selectmen to form a 501(c)(3) organization to supplement the budget and maybe one day raise enough to bring back the .5 physical education position and a health teacher for the school. There was also questioning as to why a Proposition 2½ override was not pursued this year.

“There just wasn’t enough momentum to bring it forward at this time,” said White.

School Committee member Kate Houdelette said when it came down to making the decision to cut phys ed, it was either that or increase class sizes.

“We truly feel that the smaller class sizes are the way to go,” Houdelette said. “This is something that we’re not just going to take lying down. I understand just how important physical education is for kids … and this has been truly hard for all of us.”

Houdelette called it a “speed bump” in the road, “But it’s not over yet….”

School Committee member Christine Winters said this year’s budget process was “the most exhaustive” since she joined the committee seven years ago. She said the committee had to choose options that had the least impact on the students.

“It’s not easy,” Winters said. “It’s not easy at all. It’s a bad year. It’s a bad year all the way around.”

In other matters, the committee voted to opt out of the school choice program this year by deciding not to add any new slots in order to keep class sizes down.

The budget, class size, and where the school currently is, said White, is manageable under the circumstances.

“I believe our class sizes are at a position to be managed at the staff size we have and no additional staff is needed,” said White.

The next meeting of the Marion School Committee is scheduled for May 4 at 6:30 pm at the Marion Town House.

By Jean Perry

With the lush, verdant days of spring and summer advancing and as the evening sky cleared and then filled with the purple haze of sunset, the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen met on April 12 to discuss trees and trails.

Coming before the selectmen was Tree Committee Chairman Sandy Herring and Tree Warden Roland Cote to talk about the upcoming Arbor Day celebration on April 29.

Selectman Tyler Macallister read the Arbor Day proclamation, which noted Mattapoisett’s commitment to tree-lined roadways and opportunities for the residents of the town to learn more about all things trees.

Herring said the Tree Committee had identified two locations they believed would be ideal for new tree plantings. One location, she said, was Shipyard Park. The other was the small garden area adjacent to the Land Trust’s Munro Property where the new kayak racks are located.

While Herring expressed excitement at the possibility of planting a prominent black cherry or black tupelo in this prime location, the selectmen were reticent to place a tree in what they described as “congested” public space.

“Why can’t we focus on what has been taken down?” Macallister said, while Selectman Paul Silva asked, “Is Ned’s Point a possibility?

Herring said they had not considered Ned’s Point.

Both selectmen felt that Shipyard Park is so heavily utilized by a variety of community events that adding a potentially large tree would decrease the openness of the space.

“I don’t think we want to add anything there,” Macallister told Herring.

Silva thought that the Tree Committee should look at replacing trees that have been removed throughout the village area by the tree warden or by repairs taking place on roadways and sidewalks throughout the historic village neighborhood.

Herring countered that it was important to think about successive plantings in public areas so as trees matured and lifespans ended or storms destroyed older trees, newer trees would maintain the green context. She also said that it was the committee’s intention to look at village plantings as well and that a survey had been completed on existing tree inventory in the village.

Silva and Macallister were also concerned that harbor side vistas would be compromised if trees were planted in Shipyard Park and on Water Street across from 1 and 3 Water Street. They said that if the Tree Committee gained the agreement of homeowners at those locations, then a small Japanese cherry tree Herring was proposing might be acceptable for that location.

Herring said Harbormaster Jill Simmons wanted to donate a Japanese cherry tree to the town and had hoped it might be planted on the Town Hall property at the corner of Main and Church Streets. However, the Women’s Club had already been promised that location for a magnolia tree they were donating.

Herring said she had discussed the wharf-side location with Simmons, who thought that location was acceptable for her gift. But, what about the neighbors?

“It is always going to be a hindrance, we run into … a lot of resistance from people whether it’s a water view or not” Herring said. “We need to take a position that we want a green canopy over our heads.”

Silva reasserted that a large tree at Shipyard Park wasn’t going to work, while Macallister said, as a courtesy to the neighbors that might be affected by a tree planted in their line of sight, a letter made sense.

The selectmen offered to send a letter to the homeowners living across from the small park at the top of the wharf on Water Street and, if their agreement was secured, then Simmons’ gift could be planted there.

The tree from the Women’s Club for the Town Hall was approved.

Town Administrator Michael Gagne reminded the public that voter registration was open until April 19 at the town clerk’s office or could be done online at www.mattpoisett.net. He said that to participate in Town Meeting on May 9 at 6:30 pm at ORRHS, residents had to be registered voters. He said the warrant was closed and that there will most likely be fewer than 30 articles for the voters to act on during Town Meeting.

Gagne also said that Earth Day celebrations would take place on April 23 at the Fairhaven Council on Aging between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm with a variety of outdoor and indoor activities including refreshments.

Gagne also invited residents to participate in the ongoing development of a Municipal Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. He said a draft of the document would be available for public comment on the town’s website between April 13 and May 25. During the May 26 meeting of the selectmen, all comments would be reviewed. He urged the public to make recommendations in the process of creating the plan that could potentially garner grant money for funding a finished plan.

Town Hall will be closed on Monday, April 18 for Patriot’s Day.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen is scheduled for April 26 at 7:00 pm in the town hall conference room.

By Marilou Newell

Should members be able to attend meetings remotely? That was the question on April 4 during the Marion Planning Board meeting that became heated at times.

Chairman Robert Lane suggested that the Planning Board petition the Board of Selectmen to approve the use of remote attendance by Planning Board members who cannot make it to meetings and allow members to attend virtually instead, via video chat or telephone.

Lane said state regulations have a provision for remote meeting attendance for elected officials under five different circumstances – personal illness, personal disability, emergency, military service, or geographic distance – provided the member can be remotely present for the entire meeting.

Lane said this could be beneficial to board member Rico Ferrari who travels extensively during the wintertime and on snowy nights such as the one when board member Eileen Marum forewent traveling out into the snowstorm.

“I think [remote attendance] allows us to take full advantage of the seven members of the board to participate in our business, so I’m in favor of it,” said Lane.

Planning Board member Jennifer Francis was concerned about excessive use of remote attendance and suggested putting a cap on the number of times the accommodation could be used by any one member.

“I think if you commit yourself to being on a board, then you should commit yourself to attending most of the time,” said Francis.

Planning Board member Steve Gonsalves said he understood Francis’ position, yet he cautioned her, “Be careful what you wish for.”

“I don’t agree with that,” Gonsalves said. “I don’t think it should be governed by how many times…. Anybody who runs for one of these seats, as far as I’m concerned, they’re committed.”

Board member Michael Popitz said it would certainly benefit him on nights when he has a hospital shift and needs to miss a Planning Board meeting. He mentioned another board in the past that would let him attend remotely and he found it helpful.

That’s different than a town board, pointed out Planning Board member Norm Hills, who opposed the notion of remote attendance.

“I basically don’t agree because I think … the board has seven members that will function with four – that’s a quorum,” said Hills. “There’s no requirement that everybody be here and vote…. There’s no compelling reason to do it.”

Lane said he appreciated Hills’ comment, but preferred allowing all members the chance to vote. He suggested that they compromise by asking selectmen to let the board try it out for a year as an experiment.

“And if we don’t like it, we don’t have to do it,” said Lane.

Gonsalves said he liked that idea and suggested the board’s administrative assistant keep tabs on how often remote attendance is used, but added that the number of times it is used should not be held against the members.

“If it works and we’re comfortable, then great,” said Lane. “If not, we’ll drop it.”

Hills remained skeptical that remote attendance would fully satisfy the open meeting law and voted against the motion in a 4-1 vote.

Earlier in the meeting, Hills brought up concerns over how the meeting agenda is currently formatted and asserted that it did not follow the open meeting law requirements for agendas. He said he sent a request to Administrative Assistant to the Planning Board Terri Santos to have his concern placed on the agenda for that night’s meeting but never received a response.

“I looked at it quickly,” said Lane. As chairman, Lane is responsible for items placed on the agenda. “Although I think your comments are very appropriate, I think that what we do is acceptable and what you’re saying is acceptable, and I think that it’s fine. There’s latitude on how the agenda can be constructed and … it’s the way it’s been done. There’s no reason to get into a long discussion about it.”

According to Hills, though, the site he referenced online was “pretty clear,” adding he was “not making this up.”

But there was no need to discuss it, Lane shot back. The agenda was fine and there was no point in changing it.

“What we’re doing now doesn’t meet the open meeting law, so you should be concerned with that,” said Hills.

“I am concerned with it, but I don’t agree with you at all,” said Lane. “What we do absolutely meets the open meeting law; furthermore, it’s the same way in which agendas have been constructed for the two years that I have been on the board.”

Lane accused Hills of using the moment to raise the issue to benefit his campaign for the Board of Selectmen.

“That’s not … that is absolutely not true,” Hills said.

Popitz, Gonsalves, and Francis sat silently as Hills and Lane argued.

“None of the rest of us know what you’re talking about,” said Francis.

“Well, you haven’t read the statute so you wouldn’t know,” said Lane. “It’s something … absolutely inappropriate and unnecessary to talk about. I believe we are in complete compliance.”

It’s déjà vu all over again, said Gonsalves, recalling last year when a series of meetings turned sour over meeting minutes when Lane was clerk.

“And how long did we go through that?” said Gonsalves.

“Yeah, and you were wrong then, too,” Hills said to Lane.

“Excuse me! I was not wrong at all,” said Lane. “I am not going to let the board degenerate into more arguments like that.”

Lane shut down Hills as he continued talking.

“It’s over!” shouted Lane. “We’re not talking about it! If you want to campaign for selectman on the side, go do it outside, go meet with reporters. I’m not gonna have it in this meeting.”

Hills took off his eyeglasses and tossed them on the table before him.

“I think that’s a personal attack to tell me….” said Hills while Lane continued talking over him.

Gonsalves jumped in. To you, he said to Hills, “Everything’s wrong on this board.”

“That’s not true,” Hills replied.

“Coming out if your mouth, it’s been years of everything wrong. And that’s the truth, inconvenient as that is, Mr. Hills, “Gonsalves said.

Lane said during the three years he’d been on the board, Hills never brought the topic up.

“I tried to get this done two and and a half years ago,” said Hills.

The board swiftly moved on to a brief discussion on the ‘Frigate’ property security fence.

The next meeting of the Marion Planning Board is scheduled for April 18 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Town House.

By Jean Perry