A Special Town Meeting article pertaining to an amendment to the table of contents of the Town’s Zoning Bylaws has been taken off the warrant and tabled until the Annual 2015 Town Meeting after Rochester Planning Board members voted to revisit the zoning bylaw book and restructure its contents.

The article proposed eliminating Roman numerals and replacing them with Arabic numerals, but with Planning Board Chairman Arnold Johnson’s suggestion that several bits of miscellaneous bylaws that do not belong in the zoning bylaws be included in their own section at the back of the book, things could get complicated on Town Meeting floor proposing an amendment to the article.

“There’s a lot of things that are in the Zoning Bylaws book that are not [zoning] bylaws” said Johnson. “So we’re suggesting that we pull them out.” Johnson looked at it as more of a “one-stop document” than merely a book of zoning bylaws.

Town Counsel Blair Bailey agreed that the bylaws were “interspersed and hard to follow.”

Zoning Board of Appeals and Zoning Bylaw Committee Chairman Richard Cutler commented that he encountered dog regulations in the book that he did not even know existed.

“I just think we’re gonna actually reshuffle the whole deck again,” said Johnson regarding amending the article on Town Meeting floor.

The board agreed that, after all the hard work that went into amending the zoning bylaws, it would rather do it right the first time rather than confuse the matter on October 20. The board voted to make changes now and wait until the Annual Town Meeting in May to place the article on the warrant.

Two of the other articles will require slight amendments on Town Meeting floor relative to their numbering as Arabic numerals instead of the proposed Roman numerals.

In other matters, with no further discussion, the board approved the site plan for Colbea Enterprises LLC’s filling station/convenience store/coffee drive-thru on Cranberry Highway at the intersection of Routes 58 and 28.

“We’re just excited and anxious to get going,” said Colbea Chief Executive Officer Delli Carpini.”

There were thank-yous aplenty before Carpini and his associates left Town Hall.

Also during the meeting, the board had a brief discussion with a representative of the Pines at Hathaway Pond regarding the construction of bulkheads on preexisting condominiums at the development.

Several of the final dwellings built were constructed with bulkheads that provide access to the outside from the basement, which owners of already-constructed units are now requesting.

Town Counsel Bailey clarified some points regarding the master deed, stating that the Home Owner’s Association would have to invest in an engineer before installing any further bulkheads.

The next meeting of the Rochester Planning Board is scheduled for October 28 at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.

By Jean Perry

Seven Old Rochester Regional High School students that attended the Project Contemporary Competitiveness program all had at least one thing in common – they said it changed their lives for the better.

The students gave a short presentation highlighting their experiences at PCC, a six-week advanced studies residential program at Stonehill College in Easton for students grade eight to nine – and this year grade ten as well – on October 8 before the Old Rochester Regional School Committee.

The 2014 PCC program ran from June 9 to August 9. Students chose two courses of focus from a diverse course catalog with a wide range of engaging topics in science, humanities, the arts, music, psychology, and technology.

Sophomore Mary Roussell said the program went above and beyond her expectations, adding that it was “everything she hoped for and more,” promising her peers that if they participated in the program next year, “it will be the best time of your whole life.” She also went on about how good the food was there.

“You never feel like you’re wasting your time. You’re always having fun,” said Roussell. “I would not be the person I am today if I didn’t attend.”

Nicole Ochoa said the program helped her with her struggle with anxiety, despite having dreaded the first day and wishing she did not have to attend.

“It showed me that I shouldn’t be afraid of new things,” said Ochoa, who took forensic science and drawing. “The last week was horrible for me. I didn’t want to leave.”

Avery Nugent thinks his freshman year at ORR would have been “a lot different” had he not attended the program, and Erin Burk said she learned that one can make friends in any given situation.

“Everyone accepts you there,” said Molly Richards. “And you make a lot of new friends.”

Abigail Johnson chose TV production and web design, saying she was able to make a movie and create a website of her own.

“It changed everything for me,” Johnson said. “I’ve learned to be more comfortable with myself … and learn to accept others.”

Superintendent Doug White said ORR is one of only 21 school districts that participate in the PCC program. He is unsure at this time if the program will again extend the opportunity to students entering tenth grade.

In other news, ORR may change the way it conducts its School Choice program lottery, deciding to now hold the lottery earlier in the year rather than later so families know ahead of time before placing their kids in private or vocational schools.

ORR High School Principal Michael Devoll said by the time the school holds the lottery in June, families have already “put their eggs in other baskets” rather than waiting to hear if their child has won a school choice slot at ORR.

“They’re just not interested in transferring [at this point] and I don’t blame them,” said Devoll.

This year, only three of the 11 available school choice slots were filled by July 1 and, with one empty slot still available, Devoll said he is at the end of the waiting list. There were 40 applications last year to fill the 2014/2015 school year slots.

Devoll proposed holding the lottery in March or April instead of June.

White said that holding the lottery earlier might affect budget season planning for the following fiscal year since funds from school choice are included as revenue within the budget. White said he would forward the new policy to the Policy Subcommittee for review.

In other matters, the lines in the ORR cafeteria might move a little bit quicker with a new policy that will create separate lines for students paying with cash and those buying lunch with their prepaid student lunch accounts.

Director of Food Services Caitlin Meagher will try designating two of the four lines to prepaid accounts only, hoping the prepaid lines will move faster and encourage other families to switch to the prepaid account system.

Meagher said she polled students, asking them their reasons for not participating in the school lunch program.

“The length of the lines was the number one answer,” said Meagher.

According to Meagher, roughly half the students participating in the program have prepaid accounts. Meagher also said that the school recommends at least 20 minutes of sit down time for students to eat their lunches, which can be difficult sometimes given the length of the lines.

“The hope is to see that speeds things up,” said Meagher of the new policy.

The next meeting of the Old Rochester Regional School Committee is scheduled for November 12 at 6:00 pm in the ORR Media Room.

By Jean Perry

Allan Gillis, Chairman of the Marine Advisory Board, and Harbormaster Jill Simmons spent a solid hour discussing the updated draft of Waterways Rules and Regulations presented to the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen on October 14. But of all the important areas noted in the document, none has been more contentious than the one dedicated to “grandfathered” moorings.

Starting with what should be used as a definition of “immediate family members” to when and how a mooring may be transferred, grandfathered moorings remain a sensitive subject matter.

“I just don’t think the Town should continue to do this … it is detrimental to the public,” stated Simmons. She went on to say, “…this creates a protected class of people … the whole thing bothers me … you are not taking care of other people.” Simmons explained that grandfathered moorings are being rented out, aren’t being used as regulated, and that even if the moorings are used as permitted, grandfathering keeps other people waiting for decades to get a mooring.

Gillis felt that the MAB had done its best after debating this issue for months.

Paul Silva, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, asked Gillis to go back to his board with a variety of text changes and stated that the selectmen would attend the MAB’s November meeting to clear up all sticking points. Once the document has been finally completed, Gillis was told to return to the BOS, and that it will also be vetted by the public before final approval. Go to www.mattapoisett.net to view a hyperlink of this portion of the meeting.

Other handled agenda items included votes to approve Charles Rider as a regular member of the Recreation Commission, Sean K. Parker as a full-time police officer, and Dorothy Nunes as a member of the Agricultural Commission.

How On Earth received approval to expand their food and beverage service to a deck area behind the store and Town Clerk Catherine Heuberger presented the November 4 Election Warrant for the board members’ signatures.

A presentation from Kevin Magowan, Master of Science/University of North Carolina, who has been working on the Pine Island Pond Oyster Project showed positive results from the year-long effort. The Town invested in equipment and Magowan established an oyster fishery that produced 12,000 legal-sized oysters. His detailed report also noted a 30% survival rate. The total cost of the project was approximately $4000 lower than the amount the Town had been spending to replenish diminishing stocks over the past several years. This project bodes well for a promising future for oysters, not only in Pine Island Pond, but in other areas to which the shellfish will be moved once they are mature. Harvesting at this location is now open to persons holding ‘family’ permits.

Speaking of oysters, oyster season is now open in the inner harbor for permitted residents.

Silva asked Gagne to outline who should be on a ‘town facility study group’ and how to proceed saying that, “now’s the time to start moving on this … what is the vision.”

Gagne gave his report, which included a call to the public to donate items for packages that will be sent to military service personnel. If you wish to donate, check the Town’s website for a list of needed items and drop them off at Town Hall.

Gagne also said that bidding is open for work on the town’s beach house and called on local contractors to pick up plans and specifications. A refundable $50 deposit is required.

He reminded the public that the senior tax-work-off program is now open. If you are a senior citizen with a skill that can benefit the town, you may be hired to work off as much as $750 from property taxes. Annual sign-up is required.

Flu shots will be available on October 24 between 1:00 and 4:00 pm for a $5 donation at the Council on Aging or if home-bound by calling the Public Health Nurse at 508-758-4118.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen is October 28 at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall conference room.

By Marilou Newell