Rochester Crossroads developers withdrew the applications for special permits for all their proposed signage, except one – the main pylon sign, the largest one visible from Interstate 495.

The Rochester Planning Board accepted Attorney Richard Serkey’s request to withdraw without prejudice the sign slated for visibility on Route 58, the one on Route 28, and the way-finding signs proposed for the main entryway of the commercial development. All that went before the board during the January 13 meeting was the tallest of them all, which would replace the existing 14-foot sign with a new 26-foot LED-illuminated sign.

The Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals has already granted the Special Permit for the sign. Now the project falls under Site Plan Review with the Planning Board.

Board members voiced no major concerns with the proposed sign, but noted the significant difference in size from the existing sign at the location.

Chairman Arnold Johnson proposed continuing the matter until the next meeting to allow Building Department staff to gather a list of waivers and draft a decision. Although members did not vote that evening, all signs point to approval.

“Once the development takes shape, we’ll be back for the other signs that you allowed to be withdrawn,” said Serkey. He said the main pylon sign will feature the names of future retailers at the site and will be used to attract prospective tenants. “Once the development reaches the light of day,” said Serkey, and retail stores start to move in, they will have a better idea of their signage needs.

In other matters, the board granted an Approval Not Required Application for Michael Forand of 268 Mattapoisett Road to take two lots and combine them into one lot.

The board also approved the Special Permit for Susan McCarty of 570 New Bedford Road.

Also during the meeting, after a brief discussion over proposed amendments to the Town’s subdivision bylaws and the board’s past notion of a commercial overlay district, the board decided to hold an informal workshop for residents to attend and talk about commercial development in town. Johnson said residents in the past opposed the board’s idea of a commercial overlay district and this would be a chance for a question and answer forum before any proposals wind up on the Annual Town Meeting Warrant.

“I’d rather do it here than on Town Meeting floor,” said Johnson.

Come for the coffee and donuts, stay for the discussion. The board proposed the workshop for Saturday, February 7 at 9:00 am at the Town Hall. A notice will be posted.

The next meeting of the Rochester Planning Board is scheduled for January 27 at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.

By Jean Perry

After only one bid to resurface the playground at Old Hammondtown School came in, and much higher than the amount allotted by Town Meeting, Mattapoisett School Committee members January 12 voted to reject the bid and reconsider their options.

School Business Manager Patrick Spencer told the committee it had a few options: accept the bid “at a ridiculously high price”; put the project out to bid again and hope for a lower offer; or reconsider simply patching up certain parts of the surface that need it most.

“A repair doesn’t make sense,” said committee member James Muse. And we cannot afford to replace it, said Chairman James Higgins.

The committee tossed around some ideas such as having the Department of Public Works do some of the work to save money, having a thinner layer of ground surface applied over the existing surface, or perhaps decreasing the surface area to be padded with the new ground surface. The committee figured it was best to consult with the town administrator and investigate the Town completing some of the work.

In other news, Assistant Superintendent Elise Frangos announced the receipt of a technology grant from the state for $20,000, with $10,000 to go to each of the schools to expand technology infrastructure.

She said 47 schools in the state were awarded the grant money, which the town will have to match at a ratio of 70/30, with the town investing roughly an additional $50,000 toward technology. This, said Superintendent Doug White, is practical since the district is already budgeting for more technology purchases and upgrades for the schools.

“We’re really pleased to jump on board with that,” said Frangos.

Also during the meeting, Spencer said when he gave the committee an initial estimate for the cost to install a new fence around the Center School playground he was mistaken in the length of the fence.

His estimate was for 18 feet of fence, but he did not add in the additional 20 feet the committee approved, costing another $1,600. Spencer asked the committee if it was content with the 18 feet or if it wanted to add the additional 20 feet.

“It’s not a ton of money,” said Higgins. “We might as well do it the right way.”

The committee approved the additional $1,600.

In other matters, Center School and Old Hammondtown School Principal Rose Bowman requested approval for jazz band and select chorus members to travel to Canobie Lake Park in June to give a musical performance. The committee approved the field trip.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett School Committee is scheduled for 7:00 pm on February 9 at Center School.

By Jean Perry

Assistant Superintendent of Schools Elise Frangos announced on January 7 that Sippican School is one of 47 Massachusetts school districts selected to receive part of a $5 million state-funded Digital Connections Partnership Schools Grant to expand schools’ technology resources.

“I think it’s really going to move us forward,” Frangos told members of the Marion School Committee. “It’s a happy way to start the New Year.”

The grant is a competitive, matching grant requiring the district – designated as a suburban school district – to match the grant at a 30/70 split. There are different ratios for rural and urban districts.

Superintendent Doug White said the match amount of roughly $33,000 would not be a problem since there is already money within the budget specifically for technology.

Combined, all schools within Tri-Town and Old Rochester Regional will receive $60,000 from the technology grant.

“So, big steps forward … with technology,” said Frangos.

In other news, the committee was relieved to hear that the Marion Village Estates 40B housing development will not hit Sippican School with any significant increase in student population in the foreseeable future.

Projected enrollment numbers for the next school year show class sizes currently below the class capacity level, with enough room to handle any new students into the district.

White said the numbers were his “best guess,” but it remains “a moving target.”

“Unless we get a kindergarten class of 70, we should be in pretty good shape…” said White.

“Looking at the wiggle room, I feel so much better,” said School Committee member Christine Marcolini. “We’re probably going to be okay.”

White said he visited the housing development recently to assess the proposed location for a bus stop that he said was a safer, better option than Route 105. The bus stop still needs approval from the Town.

Also during the meeting, before voting to accept an anonymous $25,000 donation to Sippican School, committee member Christine Winters defended her position that anonymous donors should be identified to the committee before accepting any money.

White said he took the matter to town counsel who found no statute, case law, or opinion regarding the School Committee’s ability to accept anonymous donations as a public entity.

“Whether it’s legal or not,” said Winters, “is a separate issue.” The committee needs to perform its fiduciary duty, stated Winters, “to ensure there is no quid pro quo going along with that.” She called for transparency among the committee, and suggested allowing committee members know the identity of the donor, without disclosing it to the public.

“I am aware of who the donor is,” said Chairman Joseph Scott. He said it is the same donor who makes the donation annually and they explicitly requested to remain anonymous.

The donation was approved, with all but Winters voting in favor.

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

By Jean Perry