“I’d like to put any rumors to rest about the ball fields,” said David Hughes of the Rochester Parks Commission. “These ball fields right now are running top notch.”

Hughes attended the Rochester Board of Selectmen meeting May 18 to dispel the previously discussed notion that the ball fields of Rochester are overcrowded this season and logistically unprepared for the vast use of the fields.

There was a late start to this year’s game season due to the snow and ensuing mud that encumbered the beginning first week or two. But as it stands now, Hughes said, the fields are busy hosting a number of different leagues in addition to the Little League, but there is room for everybody.

“We had a rough start,” said Hughes, but schedules have been worked out to avoid conflicts, including the use of the baseball diamond outfield for lacrosse games when there are no baseball games. “We’re also working with the schools,” said Hughes, hoping to access the soccer field behind Rochester Memorial School for a practice field. “It’s not the best field, but it is a field that they can practice on.”

Hughes had some ideas on future expansion, such as converting the parking area next to the skate park into a lacrosse and soccer field, which Hughes said is currently not used very much. He also tossed around the idea of taking land behind the Senior Center, which would increase the area of the Dexter Lane fields.

But with a limited budget of $15,000 for parks and recreation, money is tight, he said.

“If you’re looking to spend money,” said Hughes, “we don’t have it.” Hughes said the commission manages any shortfalls with private donations. “It’s a viable piece of property.

Hughes stuck around after his informal talk to present his Town Meeting warrant article to purchase a new water pump for field irrigation, which both the selectmen and the finance committee – present that night to make their recommendations – voted to support.

Also during discussion of the articles, things got heated between selectmen and members of the Rochester Emergency Management Services over an article proposing to space out the Personnel Plan Employee Step Rate Increases from a period of one year to two and three years in between steps.

Currently, non-union, non-contract employees are reviewed annually, and those rated highly proceed to the next step, which cuts off at step ten. The average salary increase per step advancement is three percent, plus any other cost of living and longevity increases. Board of Selectmen Chairman Richard Nunes said that averages to about a 4 to 5 percent pay raise every year an employee moves up a step.

“The whole idea of increasing the amount of years … is so, if you don’t max out in ten years, the town will save money,” said Nunes. “The whole idea was basically to save money.”

If adopted, the article to amend the Personnel Bylaws would affect four out of the 15 employees covered under the Personnel Bylaws.

“I don’t think it’s right we single out those four people,” said Volunteer Fire Department Captain Jeff Eldridge. He suggested amending the article to specify “new hires” only, and not current employees. “That would be a little more user friendly to those four employees.”

Town Administrator Michael McCue said the board has discussed the proposed article with the Personnel Board, which voted in favor of the article, and the group all agreed to apply the bylaw change to all employees rather than only new hires.

Chief Dispatcher Tracy Eldridge said, looking at the steps as presented, current employees “already committed to the town and stuck around would lose.”

“Wouldn’t it make more sense to flip it?” said Tracy Eldridge.

Nunes said the proposed change in the article reflects the federal employee step system, allowing for annual step increases until step four is reached, 104 weeks in-between steps up till step seven, and then 156 in-between steps up to step ten, the maximum step.

Tracy Eldridge and Captain Eldridge both made comments on amending the article on the Town Meeting floor to change the language to affect only new hires.

“A quick Band-Aid was thrown together in three weeks,” said Captain Eldridge. “…If we just adjust this Band-Aid a little bit, it will stop all this indecisiveness … at Town Meeting.

The Town budget already reflects the step increases for employees affected next year. Captain Eldridge said it was like “the rug being pulled out” beneath those four employees.

Also during the meeting, an article that selectmen removed from the warrant, which would allow members of the Board of Assessors to serve as appointed positions that report to the Assessors Office, was added back on after Assessor Diana Knapp presented a petition of 12 signatures.

The article was initially prompted by the recent election of Debra Lalli to the Board of Assessors. Lalli is currently a clerk that reports to the Board of Assessors. Selectmen voted to approve the request.

The next meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen is scheduled for June 1 at 6:30 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.

By Jean Perry

Monday May 25, at 10:34pm Mattapoisett Police responded to a reported car crash on Fairhaven Road (Route 6) in Mattapoisett.   On arrival officers found a vehicle with severe damage. It appears that a 2002 Saturn owned and operated by Brooklyn Cody Rodrigues age 21, of 85 Middle Street Fairhaven, was traveling westbound on Route 6 (Fairhaven Road) when it appears the operator lost control of the vehicle, striking the curb. After striking the curb it appears the car rolled over and came to rest in the front yard of 83 Fairhaven Road.

Ms. Rodrigues and her passenger Meghan Sargent age 18, of 11 Jarvis Avenue Fairhaven were pounced dead at the scene.

Mattapoisett Fire Department and the Massachusetts State Police Accident Reconstruction team assisted the Mattapoisett Police at the accident scene.

Mattapoisett Police Department Press Release

Town Administrator Paul Dawson told the Marion Board of Selectmen on May 19 that after a recent meeting with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, he felt that the Town’s concerns over the EPA’s draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit were “truly listened to” by DEP staff.

“All of the agencies represented at that meeting … came thoroughly prepared and asked a lot of good, thoughtful questions,” Dawson said. “I got the sense that they understood completely our point.”

Selectman Jonathan Henry accompanied Dawson to the meeting in Boston, and said he was impressed with the staff’s knowledge of Marion’s current situation, including the history of the creation of the town’s three wastewater lagoons the new NPDES permit no longer allows for use.

“I felt gratified that they paid attention to us and didn’t just say, ‘yeah, okay,’” said Henry.

Town Meeting on May 11 approved the appropriation of $455,000 towards engineering and legal research to assist the Town in convincing the EPA to reconsider the permit and allow Marion to devise alternative plans for meeting the pollutant standards of the NPDES.

“The DEP will assist the Town in working with the EPA and facilitating the meeting and try to get some of the larger concerns addressed,” said Dawson.

Dawson said it was a “fruitful” meeting.

“It sounds encouraging,” said newly appointed Chairman of the Board of Selectmen Stephen Cushing.

Also during the meeting, the board handed over responsibility of Goldovitz Bog to the Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission after MOSAC member John Rockwell approached the board expressing the commission’s desire to maintain it.

Rockwell said the commission, in conjunction with other groups such as the Sippican Lands Trust, wishes to maintain the existing trails that interconnect with other lands trust properties. Rockwell said, without the authority to allow the trail maintenance, he cannot grant permission to alter the property unless selectmen grant that authority to MOSAC.

“That’s fine,” said Henry. “I think in most instances it’s been our desire to get it (the property) into the hands of the people who do this because we don’t.” Cushing said the property maintenance was “low on the radar screen” for the board.

Conservation Commission Chairman Norman Hills only cautioned the board and Rockwell that phragmites are taking over the site and, unless some kind of maintenance plan is established, they will choke out the wetlands.

“It’s going to be overrun in a short time if we don’t do something,” said Hills. “They’ll just fill up the bogs…. If we don’t do something, that stuff is going to get ahead of us.”

But with a budget of zero dollars, MOSAC does not have the money or the personpower to undertake a phragmite removal and maintenance project. Cushing asked aloud if this were a matter the selectmen would want to “throw money at.”

Hills warned that the longer it takes the Town to act, the more money it would cost.

The board decided to wait and see and granted overseeing authority to MOSAC.

In other matters, the board voted to accept the one single bid submitted for the Fourth of July fireworks display.

Selectmen awarded the contract to Atlas PyroVision Entertainment Group for $32,750. The company also provided the fireworks display for the City of Boston over the Esplanade, and the board said the Town should expect a lot of “oohs and ahhs” on July 4.

The next meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen is scheduled for June 2 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Town House.

By Jean Perry