Town Administrator Michael Gagne met with the members of the Mattapoisett Marine Advisory Board on April 30 to ask for its assistance in spearheading two large projects.

The first is a coastal zone management plan.

“I’d like you to be the lead group to get this pulled together,” Gagne told advisory board members. He went on to tell them with whom the group will need to work over the course of the next year in order to write a plan the state will accept.

Gagne said that at the upcoming town meeting, the warrant has an article to hire a professional grant writer to secure monies needed in this effort, as well as a consultant to help craft a harbor plan that can stand up to state and legal scrutiny.

Other agencies and boards, Gagne said, with which the MAB will need to liaise are the Planning Board and SRPEDD. He told them that SRPEDD personnel have the expertise to help guide them through the process of writing a coastal zone management plan.

Gagne pointed to recent pressures placed on the scenic harbor, a harbor that would be best served by having a local enforceable harbor plan. He handed out the plan that New Bedford and Fairhaven had put in place several years ago as a guide towards beginning to outline such a plan for Mattapoisett.

“A harbor plan would allow the Town to develop their own language for Chapter 91 projects,” said Gagne, such as private docks and piers.

He also asked the board to come out in support of various waterfront-related warrant articles that will help the town make necessary repairs to the historic wharves.

And Gagne didn’t stop there.

He also asked the board to begin a review of waterside rules and regulations that, in his view, were out of date and in need to improvement.

On this project, he said the board would be working with Town Counsel John Goldrosen of Koppelman and Paige. Gagne passed out copies of the current rules and regulations that Goldrosen had edited. There was a good-natured collective groan when the members saw the amount of “red ink” they were faced with improving. Gagne provided them with a copy of legal guidelines for preparing a new document. He thanked them on behalf of the selectmen for taking on these two challenging but important projects.

Chairman Alan Gillis said they would most likely break up into subcommittee groups to tackle these projects.

Also present was Harbormaster Jill Simmons who shared that Adam Perkins, a local teen and Boy Scout, had completed his Eagle Scout project. Simmons said the kayak rakes for the Town Wharf area that he had built would be installed in the coming week.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Marine Advisory Board is scheduled for May 28 at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall conference room.

By Marilou Newell

The Marion Planning Board on May 4 took the final step to approve the Saltworks Marine project on Wareham Street.

With one abstention, they otherwise voted unanimously to approve a draft of the plan set forth by Engineer Douglas Schneider and Dan Crete of Saltworks.

This brings to a close the public hearing site plan review, which had been continued through several meetings. Discussions with the board began late last year.

Additionally, the board unanimously voted to approve a draft of a special permit request, which was needed due to the size of the buildings exceeding 5,000 square feet. From here, the board will submit the drafts to town counsel for review. Should town counsel find both drafts agreeable, work can begin at the land located at 291 Wareham Street in Marion, also known as Map 11, Lot 79A.

Planning Board Vice Chairman Normal Hills, acting chairman in Stephen Kokkins’ absence, sounded confident in town counsel’s eventual approval.

“I don’t anticipate a problem, (but I don’t know.) I left my Ouija board at home,” Hills said.

Prior to the approval, the floor was opened to questions from the board and the public, of which there were none.

Board member Rico Ferrari raised questions regarding future engineer needs, to which Schneider responded that they would not need assistance from a consulting engineer for the Town.

Additionally, the board voted for a recommendation on the upcoming Annual Town Meeting. The recommendation was regarding the citizen’s petition bylaw “Zoning Limitation on the Size of the Footprint of Commercial and Retail Buildings and Structures,” submitted by former Planning Board member Ted North.

The petition is aimed at discouraging “big box” businesses from setting up shop in Marion. The petition would cap commercial and retail buildings to 10 percent lot coverage and a maximum of 5,000 square feet.

The board voted unanimously to not recommend adoption of the article.

During the January 5 Planning Board meeting, Hills expressed concerns about the petition, saying that the petition was “unclear.”

The fate of the petition will be decided at the May 11 town meeting.

General housekeeping at the meeting included updates on the requests for proposal (RFPs) for engineering services for the Town. Hills said they have four responses so far and that he would allow the board time to look over them.

Other updates were for the Town’s master plan. The two contracts for services from the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District, SRPEDD, received approval at an earlier Planning Board meeting.

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

By Andrew Roiter

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Rochester Board of Selectmen Chairman Richard Nunes’ concern over the limited field space for youth sporting events prompted him to ask Town Administrator Michael McCue to put together a list of all town-owned properties so the board could assess if creating more sports fields was a feasible option in Rochester.

At Dexter Lane, for example stated Nunes, “You have so many games going on … that they’re bumping into each other over there.”

There is another field slated for construction at the Dexter Lane Athletics Fields, but the league is waiting on some financial assistance from other surrounding towns, given that the sports are regionalized.

Town Counsel Blair Bailey, on hand at the May 4 meeting for another matter, told the board that he has seen the girls’ softball team affected by simultaneous lacrosse games and such that have squished games into limited spaces.

“They (girls’ softball team) can’t even use the outfield,” said Bailey. “There’s a shortage of field everywhere.” He said Tabor Academy has fields in Marion, but there are very few public fields. “We do need more,” Bailey said.

Nunes asked McCue if he could gather the lot size information for the properties listed to get a better idea on which parcels might be large enough to accommodate a sports field. However, Bailey reminded Nunes that there is often wetlands smack dab in the middle of these parcels.

“We may have a big piece of land, but it might be soaking wet,” Bailey said.

Most of the other open space properties for sale in town that could house a new field, said Bailey, have price tags that are too high for the league to afford, mentioning specifically the old airport.

Nunes referred to the youth programs using the fields at ORR, which are interfering with other sports programs at the school.

“So everybody’s bumping into each other,” said Nunes.

McCue said he would gather further information for the board to review at another meeting.

Also during the meeting, Planning Board Chairman Arnold Johnson briefly discussed the board’s three bylaw amendment articles to appear on the June 8 Annual Town Meeting Warrant before the selectmen voted to refer the articles back to the Planning Board.

The first article amends the limited commercial district to allow for mixed-use within the zone, providing developers with the opportunity to combine commercial with residential housing on the same lot.

“Right now you have to do either all commercial or all residential,” said Johnson.

The article also cleans up the bylaw language, for example, by striking antiquated terms such as typewriter repair and hat making shops from the language.

“We’re not proposing expanding the limited commercial district in any way,” Johnson clarified. The Planning Board held a public forum for area landowners to attend to contribute to the discussion of the bylaw amendments, which Johnson said was successful in addressing any concerns of the residents. “I think most everybody there understood what we were trying to do.”

A second article will define mixed-use within the bylaw, and a third article, provided as a fallback article should the first limited commercial district bylaw be struck down at Town Meeting, is a less restrictive version simply allowing for mixed-use.

Bailey advised splitting the articles up into three in order to avoid bogging down Town Meeting should questions and strong opposition arise against specific portions of the bylaw amendment.

In other matters, the board approved several policy updates and changes presented by Town Treasurer Cynthia Mello. Most regarded HIPAA policy adoptions and town investment policies.

In other news, McCue said the final total deficit for ice and snow removal is $146,591.74 beyond the budgeted $68,000, bringing the total fiscal year 2015 spending on snow removal to $214,591.74.

The Town will also be moving overdue and outstanding ambulance transport bills to Small Claims Court after several residents failed to respond to letters mailed out alerting them to the payment collection. Outstanding ambulance transport invoices total $25,000.

The board also voted to forego its Right of First Refusal for 0 Snipatuit Pond Road.

The next meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen is scheduled for May 11 at 6:30 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.

By Jean Perry

Candidates of contested races in Marion faced a packed Marion Music Hall on April 29 during The League of Women Voters Candidates’ Night, with every seat filled and standing room only at the back. Voters had plenty of questions for candidates of the Board of Selectmen, School Committee, and Planning Board, but most questions were aimed at the two incumbents for Planning Board – Steve Gonsalves, a member of nine years, and current Planning Board Chairman Stephen Kokkins. Newcomer Jennifer Francis was unable to attend due to a prior work-related commitment that took her to Japan.

During his opening remarks, Gonsalves said over the years he has helped “shape and develop Marion’s future without losing its charm.” His concern, though, is the lack of “sensible growth” in businesses.

“I am afraid affordable Marion is slipping though our fingers,” said Gonsalves. “It’s time to welcome sensible growth here in Marion and stop fighting it.”

Kokkins has been busy trying to overhaul the town’s zoning and land use, he said.

“We need to review our present bylaws regarding land use,” especially along Route 6, he said, by fostering “smart growth … with an attractive balance and appropriately-sized businesses.” He continued, “I want to continue to encourage compatible businesses to flourish here.”

Finance Committee Chairman Alan Minard, who referred to the Planning Board in his earlier presentation about the state of the Town’s finances, mentioned the need for the board to find ways to encourage smart growth and increase tax revenue “without getting into CVS-like configurations.”

Minard asked the two candidates what the board could do to make smart growth and tax revenue through business a reality.

“Some bylaws are too restrictive,” said Gonsalves. “And it’s really hurting new business in this town.” He referred to a current Planning Board matter involving the site plan review and special permit application for Saltworks Marine, owned by Dan Crete, as an example of the hurdles resulting from tough bylaws and the frustration he feels “when we can’t get to the place we need to be.”

Kokkins said smart streamlining of the application and regulatory process is needed, also referring to Crete’s “tricky site” and its “difficult issues.” Kokkins also advocated for new mixed-use zoning, such as business mixed with residential housing.

There was some discussion about the proposed CVS construction plan for the corner of Route 6 and Front Street, and both candidates shared the sentiment that a CVS would be welcomed, just not beyond a footprint of 8,000 square feet.

But with the current bylaws and the proposed bylaw amendment of Article 43 on the Town Meeting Warrant – a citizen’s petition that would restrict all businesses to a 5,000 square-foot or 10 percent lot coverage maximum – both candidates called for further discussion, given that the Planning Board will not recommend its adoption at Town Meeting.

“There are things that are missed,” said Gonsalves. “We really need to think hard because we are affecting everybody in this town.” You don’t want to see explosive growth, said Gonsalves, “But you can’t have knee-jerk panic reactions when something like CVS comes to town.”

Kokkins and Gonsalves were asked to comment on the ongoing discord amongst Planning Board members, especially over meeting minutes and the general frustration of apparent clashes of personalities.

“It shouldn’t be this difficult,” said Gonsalves. “I admit it.”

Kokkins replied, “I strongly believe our overriding philosophy is for everyone to … treat everyone with respect.”

There is no question, said Kokkins, that it has been a tough year for the Planning Board.

And in closing, Gonsalves reminded everyone, “Remember, two Steves are better than one.”

For the Board of Selectmen, only Jody Dickerson was present for the Candidates’ Night, with opponent Dale Jones unable to attend last minute, although he was expected that evening. Rules do not permit questioning when only one candidate is present, but Dickerson had a chance to tell the voters why he should be reelected.

“[Marion has been] faced with many changes,” said Dickerson. “Some forced upon us…” Dickerson said he has the energy to put forth the effort to move Marion forward, “And this lens can only be developed through years of dedication … and passion for the Town of Marion.”

School Committee candidates include two newcomers, Jessica Harris and David MacDonald, as well as Michelle Ouellette, who served one term on the School Committee before losing by a handful of votes last year.

Harris, a high school science teacher, said education “is a vital part of my life.”

Harris highlighted her role in starting the Marion Natural History Museum’s summer program at the beach. She has two children, one at Sippican School and one who graduated from Sippican.

“I’d really like to continue to work towards fostering really excellent programs at Sippican,” Harris said.

MacDonald, who currently serves on the Sippican School Council, said his role on the council has given him “insight into the educational process.”

“Strong schools build strong communities,” said Harris. “I will approach this role with continuous improvement in mind.”

Ouellette, a special education teacher of 14 years with a child in the third grade at Sippican and 13 years of service for the town, including time spent on the School Council and other town boards, said she is committed to continuing to serve the town. Her experience teaching, she said, enhanced her service on the School Committee when it came to contract negotiations with teachers, which “helped the town in a large way financially.”

The Marion Annual Election is Friday, May 15. The polling station is the Marion VFW located at 465 Mill Street, Route 6. Polls are open from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm.

By Jean Perry