Kevin T. Brogioli, Principal of Old Rochester Regional Junior High School, announces the following Students of the Month for May 2014:
– Green Team: Madelyn Scheub and Hanil Kang
– Orange Team: Erin Stoeckle and Michael Sivvianakis
– Blue Team: Lily Pearl Poirier and Lauren Ziino
– Red Team: Taylor Swoish and Logan King
– Special Areas: Nicole Pires and Matthew Pires
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Republican Town Committee is Wednesday, June 25 at 6:00 pm at the Mattapoisett Public Library. Guest speaker will be Dan Shores, who is a candidate for Congress in the 9th District. Meetings are held in the conference room on the lower level of the Library, and we invite all interested voters to come to the meeting and hear his message. For questions or more information, please contact Committee Chairman Jane Awad at 508-813-6304.
On the sunny afternoon of Saturday, June 7, the graduating students of Old Rochester Regional High School’s class of 2014 formed a circle on the football field. Senior class president Zachary Bowen counted to three, and then 162 tasseled caps flew through the air. The red and white specks landed amongst cheers.
The seniors enjoyed an entire week of exciting events before this final significant moment. Monday, June 2, was the senior class trip to Six Flags. Two days later the students showed off their beautiful gowns and dapper suits at promenade before heading to the senior prom at the Indian Pond Count Club in Kingston, MA.
These fun festivities turned into more ceremonial celebrations as the week wore on. Thursday, June 5, was senior awards night, followed by the senior assembly the next morning. The week was rounded off with graduation on June 7.
Thursday’s awards night – held in the high school gymnasium – honored students successful in academics, athletics, and art. Certificates of excellence were awarded to the student with the highest average in each class. Each department also had their own awards. Recipients of these department awards received a plaque and a small medal to wear over their graduation gown.
In the Classical and Modern Languages Department, John Hewitt won the French award, Brianna Perry won the Latin award, and Kaitlyn Sethares won the Spanish award. John Hewitt also won the department award for English Language Arts, and Kaitlyn Sethares also won the department award for Mathematics. The History and Social Science department award went to Emily Audet. The Science, Technology, and Engineering department award went to Nicolas Iacovelli. The Physical Education department awards went to Michaela Bouvette and Paul Graves. In the Unified Arts Department, Mia Traenkle won for Art, Keren Satkin won for Band, Justin Smilan won for Chorus, and Kylie Fitzgerald and Evelyn Murdock each won for Family and Consumer Science. The Athletic Department gave out various awards presented to Paige Santos, Samantha Barrett, Chris Carando, Robert Magee, Emily Beaulieu, Jesse Noonan, Isabelle Riley, and Samantha Allaire. A few departments gave additional awards for students of further excellence.
Mary Cabral, advisor of the Community Service Learning club, presented Presidential Volunteer Service Awards to students who earned them through hours of community service. Bronze awards were given to Emily Hyde and Robert Magee for each completing over 100 hours of service. Gold awards were given to Arissa Underhill and Haakon Perkins for each completing over 250 hours of service.
The night continued with the AFS recognition awards and Drama Club awards. Emily Audet received the Joan Walsh Book Award and Samantha Barrett received Student Council’s Unsung Hero Award. The Carol A. E. Stigh Lighthouse Award went to Kella Mendes.
Members of the National Honor Society received their gold chords to wear at graduation, and then the top ten scholars of the class received their certificates and medals. Renae Reints and Nicolas Iacovelli tied for tenth in the class. Ninth went to Emily Audet, followed by Ruhi Raje, Brianna Perry, Justin Smilan, Jessica Belliveau, Michael Wyman, John Hewitt, and Kaitlyn Sethares. The Class of 2014’s valedictorian was announced as Leah Thomas.
Brianna Perry was recognized for receiving the Charles E. Winterhalter Memorial Ronald McDonald House Charities scholarship. Emily Hyde and Makenzie Despres were awarded the Marion Firefighters Association scholarships. Every scholarship recipient was recognized; a full listing of these recipients can be found on the high school’s website.
The assistant principal’s award went to Brittany Hotte and the Superintendent’s Award went to Justin Smilan. Principal Michael Devoll gave out various awards presented to Samantha Allaire, Samantha Barrett, Kelly Merlo, Douglas Blais, and Kaitlyn Sethares. He also commended John Hewitt, Rebecca Koerner, Kaitlyn Sethares, Justin Smilan, and Leah Thomas for participating in the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Friday morning’s senior assembly was a more lively celebration of the seniors’ accomplishments. Held during second period in the high school’s gymnasium, the whole school as well as family and friends were in attendance.
The assembly started with the singing of the national anthem by senior chorus members. Next, Class Secretary Brianna Perry spoke on the class’s history. From creating their first fantastic homecoming skit freshman year to dealing with the fact their original prom venue burned down senior year, the class of 2014 has had an interesting and successful four years. Perry captured the class’s unique personality as she spoke, recognizing every accomplishment from the debate team to the football team.
To show the class’s unique talents, the assembly contained intermittent musical performances by members of the senior class. Troy Rood, Elizabeth Machado, and Justin Smilan each sang. The Jazz Combo, including seniors Matthew Pereira and Jared Tyndall, performed a song. The audience also enjoyed the chorus’ singing of “Spiderman” and later the concert band’s playing of “Foundry” by John Mackey.
Between these musical performances were heartwarming speeches that captured the year’s events and said goodbye to the seniors. Foreign exchange students Louisa Truss from Germany and Ailina Cervantes Diaz from Costa Rica spoke about their transforming time in the United States. Their speeches were followed by a slide show the two had created using pictures of their experiences with their new family at ORR.
Junior class president Michael Kassabian had the audience laughing with his goodbye speech for the seniors. He recalled the “struggles” the class of 2014 had to face over the years – everything from dealing with the new student drop off route to losing and then regaining chocolate milk in the cafeteria. Kassabian quoted both Drake and Rosa Parks, managing to blend humor and heart into a wonderful speech.
The senior assembly is not only a time for the school to say goodbye to the seniors; it’s a time for the seniors to thank those who have helped get them so far. The senior class officers – President Zachary Bowen, Vice President Callie Gomes, Secretary Brianna Perry, and Treasurer Amanda Carreiro – presented gifts to the class’s advisors, Merrideth Wickman and Michael Nailor. Senior Zachery Tilden spoke about the senior class’s gift to the school: benches in memory of Dana Dourdeville. The benches can be found at the memorial by the school’s track.
The assembly was concluded with the senior video created by Samantha Barrett. Throughout the year, Barrett collected interviews, video, and photos to blend into a montage of the class of 2014. The video had students smiling and laughing upon seeing old photos and footage of their classmates. It brilliantly captured the class’s personality and heart.
Finally, Saturday – the big day – arrived. With the sun shining hot, the graduation ceremony was held on the school’s football field at noon. The graduating seniors walked formally to their seats to the tune of “Fanfare and Processional” by Edward Elgar, performed by the high school concert band. Once seated, the national anthem was again sung by senior chorus members Makenzie Despres, Nicole Enos, Troy Rood, Paige Santos, and Justin Smilan.
Senior Class President Zachary Bowen held a moment of silence and then welcomed the friends and families in the crowded bleachers before passing the microphone to Superintendent Douglas White, Jr. White spoke about how the students’ generation has become a generation of technology. With this technology comes the availability of information, and thus the requirement for maturity, he said, providing advice to the graduating students.
Principal Michael Devoll took the stand next, speaking about his time at ORR and his realization of the school’s value. “We have never graduated such a strong class,” he said, mentioning the class of 2014’s success regarding academics, athletics, debate, and community service. With that, Devoll passed the microphone to eighteen graduating students so that they may speak for themselves on their accomplishments.
The students who spoke – Keren Satkin, Nathan Resendes, Morgan DaSilva, Nicholas Bergstein, Kella Mendes, Chad Santello, Isabelle Riley, Mitchel Geldmacher, Arissa Underhill, Christopher Helmar, Curran Desjardins, Haakon Perkins, Morgan Collings, Jacob Machnik, Talon Gomes, Jack Smith, Kelly Merlo, and John Hewitt – spoke honestly about their high school experience. They mentioned their pride in becoming sports captions, participating in a wonderful music program, getting involved in the school and community, and creating fantastic homecoming skits.
DaSilva mentioned her undefeated track team, which won all eight SCC championships throughout her four years. Riley was on the girls’ lacrosse team the first year it was started, and this year, they made it all the way to states. Collings thanked the teachers for their support, while Perkins recalled his valuable time volunteering in the special education classroom. Many of the students were simply proud of the friends they’ve made, the memories collected, and the diploma soon to be in their hands. Hewitt, the last to speak, left his classmates with some advice. Follow your interests, he said, because they are what make you unique.
With the conclusion of these speeches, Devoll passed the microphone to Jessica Belliveau, Vice President of the National Honor Society. Belliveau introduced her friend and classmate, a caring person and lover of Jeopardy: Leah Thomas, the valedictorian.
Thomas’ speech was one of memories made and goals achieved. She encouraged her peers to be proud of their accomplishments, reminding them that although it has become an expectation, graduating high school is a big deal. Throughout her speech, Thomas gave her classmates valuable advice. She reminded them to take every opportunity. As a resident of Middleboro, Thomas took the opportunity to become a school choice student at ORR. Now she’s ORR’s first ever school choice valedictorian. Thomas encouraged her peers to appreciate the good times, get involved in the community around you and make memories. As her last piece of advice, Thomas reminded her classmates to always show their gratitude. Sticking to her word, Thomas thanked those who had influenced and supported her over the years: teachers, family, and friends.
After a performance by the high school band, the graduates finally reached the moment they’d been waiting for – the presentation of diplomas. As Vice Principal Michael Parker read off their names, the graduating students proudly walked to the front of the field. They shook hands with Principal Devoll, School Committee Chairman James O’Brien, and Superintendent White, received their diploma, and again took their seat among their peers.
Finally, Principal Devoll presented the class of 2014, and one hundred sixty-two caps flew into the air. The 52nd class of Old Rochester Regional High School had graduated.
By Renae Reints
The Marion School Committee said good-bye to the old pencil and paper MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) and hello to the new online PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) exam during its June 5 meeting.
Just as Rochester had done the night before, Marion chose to embrace the PARCC exam after a pilot of the exam at Sippican School and an informative presentation by Superintendent Doug White, who advocated for replacing MCAS with PARCC before the State stops using MCAS on its own accord in 2015. The Board of Education granted local school committees the choice to decide between the two exams.
“Whether it be a PARCC school or an MCAS school,” said White, “we can’t be both.” White added that if Marion decided to go with PARCC, the State would back the change by assisting with technology infrastructure support and professional development. The decision must be made by October 1, and White said the sooner the committee decided, the better.
“In 2016, [MCAS] will no longer be a viable test in grades three through six,” said White; however, for the time being, MCAS will remain a graduation requirement, and the science MCAS will also remain the same, for now.
Sippican School Principal Lyn Rivet said a select group of students who took the pilot PARCC test liked it more than MCAS because it was a shorter exam, but they had frustrations with the manipulation of the technology.
As Rivet explained, some students had difficulty navigating the exam, like finding the math calculator that the website provides for the test. Students who also went back to alter their open response questions were disconcerted when, after pressing the delete button, their entire open response questions were erased.
“Overall, the response … was that they were excited about being able to take it on the computer,” said Rivet. However, she added, “They would have felt more assured … if there had been some sort of practice involved.”
There are other benefits to adopting PARCC now before the State decides which exam they will issue in 2016, as White explained.
Students would get acclimated earlier to the online testing, and there is no risk to the school’s Level 1 status, since 2015 test results would not count against the school.
“What I see is an opportunity for our kids to be exposed to and have the opportunity to try this test,” said White.
But as School Committee member Christine Winters pointed out, there is no guarantee that the State will choose to continue using PARCC in 2016, so why adopt it now?
“But MCAS will never be here again,” said White. “Some other online test will be used in 2016 … MCAS is no longer a test that is aligned to the Common Core.”
Chairman Joseph Scott concurred, saying, “Experience is going to benefit us no matter what the (future online) test is.”
Assistant Superintendent Elise Frangos added another benefit to adopting the online test, describing the labor-intensive process of preparing the MCAS testing materials, sharpening pencils, counting test packets, and checking seals and codes.
“It is truly a gigantic labor,” said Frangos. “And if we could go to this (online) modality, it would be amazing.”
Winters pointed out that Sippican students have already engaged in the Galileo testing online, so what would be the added value in adopting PARCC?
“It equates to everything,” said Scott, “Practice, practice, practice…”
School Committee member Christine Marcolini saw the benefit of adding “time on learning” by doing away with MCAS, which takes place over the course of the entire day, while PARCC is just about 90 minutes long.
“Also, the amount of staff that has to be covering all that day long…” said Marcolini.
All committee members voted in favor of PARCC, with Winters abstaining from voting.
In other matters, the committee approved the plans for the new Sippican School playground, a $9,000 project that will be completely paid for by donations and private funding with no cost to taxpayers.
Physical education teacher Joe Resmini presented the plans that now include a black top area on which older students could play.
“Older kids have nowhere to play basketball or four square,” said Resmini. “The human body needs movement and it needs movement all throughout the day.” He said students’ brains become more focused and active, resulting in better learners. “It would definitely reduce the amount of behavior problems at recess,” added Resmini.
The committee also approved keeping Whaling City Transportation as the Town’s special education transportation, and they approved the YMCA lease for use of the Sippican School facilities.
The committee approved the School Improvement Plan developed in part by the Sippican School Council, as well as Frangos’ Professional Development Plan.
The committee welcomed new committee member Kate Houdelette, and said farewell to Director of Student Services Theresa Hamm, who is retiring at the end of the school year after over 20 years of service in the Old Rochester Regional District.
By Jean Perry
Daniel J. Gautreau, 85, of Fairhaven passed away Tuesday, June 10, 2014. He was the husband of the late Lillian (Richard) Gautreau.
Born in New Brunswick, Canada a son of the late Cloris and Sophia (Belliveau) Gautreau. He was a member of St. Joseph’s Church, Fairhaven and also attended church at St. Mary’s, Fairhaven and St. Joseph-St. Therese Church in New Bedford.
Mr. Gautreau worked in maintenance for The Steamship Authority. He was a member of the Fin Fur Feather Club of Mattapoisett and he loved hunting and fishing in Maine. Mr. Gautreau enjoyed going out for breakfast with all his buddies.
He is survived by two daughters, Jackie Mahoney and her husband Keith of Fairhaven and Yvette Montplaisir and her husband Mark of Needham; a sister, Yvette LeBlanc; two brothers, Marc and Henri Gautreau all of Canada; four grandchildren, Mathew Tomlinson, Melissa Medeiros and her husband Jay, Erik and Nicole Montplaisir; two great grandchildren, Avery and Zachary Medeiros and several nieces.
He was also the father of the late Richard D. Gautreau.
His Funeral Mass will be held, Friday, June 20, 2014 at 9 AM in St. Mary’s Church, Main St., Fairhaven. Burial will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.
John F. Holland, 71, of Mattapoisett, passed away Monday, June 9, 2014.
He was the loving husband of Nancy (Dugan) Holland, with whom he shared 48 years of marriage.
Born in Belmont, he raised his family in Newton, before retiring to Mattapoisett, after 35 years at UPS in Watertown, in 2003.
In retirement he enjoyed traveling, walking his beagle to the beach, and golfing as often as he could.
Survivors include his wife; 2 sons, Jay and his wife Marissa and Jeff and his wife Lisa; his daughter Kara; 3 grandchildren, Isabella, Micaela, and Connor; 2 brothers, Chris and his wife Julie and Joe and his wife Karen; 2 sisters, Marion and Barbara and her husband Denis; and numerous in-laws, nieces, and from both Holland and Dugan families. John will be missed by all, but embraced by his parents Christy, Sarah, and Theresa, his sister Ann, and his parents in-law James and Virginia (Kelly) Dugan.
His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, June 14, 2014 at 11 AM in St. Anthony’s Church, 22 Barstow St., Mattapoisett. Visiting hours will be held on Friday evening from 5-9 PM in the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Mattapoisett. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of John to the Alzheimer’s Association 480 Pleasant St Watertown, MA 02472 – http://www.alz.org/manh/in_my_community_donate.asp. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.
The Mattapoisett Land Trust is pleased to announce that it has acquired 22 acres of woodland and salt marsh along Mattapoisett Neck Road from Jeanne and Gregory Downey of Mattapoisett. The property lies between parcels of land that were previously protected by the Mattapoisett Land Trust as well as the Wildlands Trust of Duxbury, MA. Most importantly, the land lies entirely within an area that the Commonwealth’s Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program BioMap2 report (2012) describes both as “Core Habitat” and “Critical Natural Landscape,” meaning that it is among the most important areas to preserve for the protection of rare and threatened species.
In addition to private contributions, the acquisition was only made possible through a grant of $75,000 from the North American Wetlands Conservation Act administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and obtained through the assistance and cooperation of the Buzzards Bay Coalition, the Wildlands Trust, as well as the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program. Additional funding came from foundation sources including the Lee L. and Judith E. Selwyn Foundation, the Fields Pond Foundation and the Sheehan Family Foundation. Fund-raising efforts to retire the $25,000 principal remaining on a loan that was required will continue through the summer. Individuals interested in contributing can donate to the Land Trust through its website at www.mattlandtrust.org or by mail to P.O. Box 31 in Mattapoisett.
The MLT hopes to eventually link the property to the existing trail on the Walega-Livingstone Preserve, thereby providing a public trail access to Brandt Island Cove from Mattapoisett Neck Road. Future generations will have the opportunity to experience the natural beauty of the salt marsh and woodlands along the bay.
Bridgewater State University announces that Anne Smith of Mattapoisett, a senior in the Commonwealth Honors Program, is one of 36 undergraduates to receive the Adrian Tinsley Program Summer Research Grant. The grant is a $4,000 stipend sustaining 10 weeks of intensive research under the supervision of a faculty mentor. For her ATP grant, Smith will investigate the utility of young adult literature as gateway reads to canon texts in the Massachusetts Curriculum Framework by creating a unit plan that uses literature circles in the high school English classroom. The ATP grant is the first semester of Smith’s honors thesis for her bachelor’s degree in English and Secondary Education.
Bridgewater State University also announces that Smith received the following three scholarships: The Dr. Wallace L. Anderson Scholarship is presented to a junior in the humanities and creative arts who has an excellent academic record (GPA over 3.0) and who has shown evidence of artistic or literary ability or has demonstrated leadership in the academic major. The Professor Thomas M. and Anne M. Curley English Scholarship was established in 2001 to benefit a student who majors or minors in English and demonstrates excellence in English studies. The Class of 1953 Scholarship Fund in Memory of J. Leo Mulready benefits a full-time student enrolled in the College of Education and Allied Studies who demonstrates academic achievement (2.5 GPA or higher) and a desire to become a teacher. Smith was also named to the Dean’s List.
Mattapoisett, MA resident, Corey Singleton Visotski, has been named to the dean’s list at James Madison University for the spring 2014 semester. Students who earn dean’s list honors must carry at least 12 graded credit hours and earn a GPA of between 3.5 and 3.899. Singleton Visotski is a 2014 graduate from James Madison University with a degree in Computer Info Systems – BBA. He has accepted a position with Fast Enterprises in St. Paul, Minnesota. His parents, Cindy and Joseph Visotski, along with his family members, are all extremely proud of his accomplishments.
Claire Martin, daughter of Beth and Louis Martin of Mattapoisett, graduated from Saint Michael’s College with a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude degree in Media Studies and Digital Arts at the college’s 107th commencement exercises held on the college campus May 11. Claire was also named to the spring 2014 Dean’s List at Saint Michael’s College.
Gabrielle Kondracki of Mattapoisett, daughter of MaryAnne and Michael Kondracki of Mattapoisett was named to the spring 2014 Dean’s List at Saint Michael’s College.
The woods of Rochester really set themselves apart from the rest of Tri-Town. Although the Tri-Town area as a whole is blessed with miles of conservation land trails that border the ocean, fields, and ponds, the woods of Rochester just have that je ne sais quoi – a certain charm, a pleasant vibration that is palpable – a kindness about them.
We came back to Rochester after a few satisfying hikes in all three towns, and it felt good to be back – like visiting a new “old” friend. A walk through the woods of Rochester is better than therapy, my friends.
Within the boundaries of the Delano Memorial Forest there is magic. This woodland has a consciousness, a personality. You can feel its gratitude when a visitor comes to meander through its trails. I felt at home here, I felt welcome. It is a friendly wood.
The tall, slender pines towered over little me, swaying and scraping the sky as I wound my way along the two-mile loop. The trees whispered in the wind, and I found myself stopping every so often to listen to their sighs and look up to where they were pointing.
Each hilly bend before me, every dip and turn along the way kept my mind completely in the moment – wondering what was coming next and forgetting about the world outside the wood.
The trail loop would make a great running path, with very few roots reaching out to trip up your step. A run through the woods can be just as invigorating as a rigorous hike, but the Delano Memorial Forest had me slowing down for my senses to take in everything around me. My feet on the earth below, the feathers and little creatures I passed along the way, the birds and wild turkeys that brought me to a standstill.
Some short, beckoning side trails lead to the riverside, “Sarah’s Rock,” and a memorial stone placed in memory of Stephen Delano, reminding everyone “This was his woodland.”
Almost halfway in, the trail forks and, knowing that the left trail would end abruptly at one point according to the Rochester Land Trust trail guide, my curiosity, which always triumphs, made me follow it anyway and I was glad I did. It was like I had stumbled into the baby pine nursery, with young pine saplings lining the straight narrow path that opened up to a reddening cranberry bog.
I had to retrace my steps back to the loop trail, but it was my pleasure to re-experience the path all over again from the opposite direction.
Along the last leg of the loop, I eventually noticed I was walking along a primitive ancient stone wall overtaken by time and buried in a mossy grave. The leaves of centuries of autumns have it almost completely covered, except for a single obelisk-like rock with a forgotten purpose reaching up from the past and speaking to my sense of wonder.
Who put you there, and what for? Why are you there, I wondered? Was I following an old stagecoach road, the stone wall on either side swallowed up beneath the layers of time?
The Delano Memorial Forest is as mysterious as it is enchanting. From the slender, intimate paths to the widening cart paths of the past, this woodland is a gem in every sense of the word.
The trailhead begins on Mary’s Pond Road, marked by wooden posts and a sign. There is parking off the side of the road and, contrary to the Rochester Land Trust map, the trail does indeed loop all the way around from start to finish. The loop took me about an hour, and I enjoyed each and every one of those 60 minutes immensely.
I’ll be back throughout the months to experience this sacred space in every phase of the season. Put this one at the top of your Take a Hike list for sure.
By Jean Perry
During his report to the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen on June 10, Town Administrator Michael Gagne discussed the upcoming Tri-Town Selectmen’s Meeting scheduled for June 19 at 7:00 pm in ORRHS. Gagne said that he recently had conversations with Superintendent Doug White regarding the prudent use of excess and deficiency funds rather than for operating expenses and had been encouraged that things were moving in the right direction. He said that the Tri-Town selectmen’s involvement moving forward with ORR financial matters would be beneficial. White indicated to Gagne that he is looking to put together a reserve fund for unforeseen emergencies and capitol planning building needs. Gagne also said that the town’s investment firm, Bartholomew and Company (located in Worcester), had offered to assist the school department with OPEB planning.
Gagne also asked the board to vote on the appointment of Jill Simmons as reserve police officer on the waterfront and F. Mitchell Suzan as special reserve officer for details only.
Elsewhere on the agenda the board reorganized, voting Tyler Macallister as Clerk, Jordan Collyer as Vice Chairman, and Paul Silva as Chairman.
Michael King came before the board requesting permission to discuss his farming enterprise with the Board of Health. As an appointed member of the Conservation Commission, King needed the board’s permission according to state ethics rules. He received approval.
Special one-day liquor licenses were approved for the YMCA for several upcoming charity events. These events are primarily for the purpose of raising funds to help subsidize camping tuition for children with financial hardship.
The selectmen voted approval for the MS Bike Charity Ride to move through six miles of Mattapoisett on June 21, which also received an affirmative response from Police Chief Mary Lyons.
Town Clerk Catherine Hueberger came before the board to discuss the possibility of extending voting hours during local elections. Both she and Gagne had heard from the public that opening the polls at 8:00 am for local elections would be beneficial. She estimated the increased expense at $400. The selectmen tabled the decision until the September meeting to give them ample opportunity to discuss the time change with Old Hammondtown School’s administration.
Allen Decker of the Buzzards Bay Coalition met with the board to discuss the approval of a conservation restriction on town property adjacent to Nasketucket Reservation. He said that the sale of the conservation restriction to the state for $180,000 will help the town with the purchase price for the 27 acres site. Decker said that ultimately it is hoped that this parcel – along with the larger reservation – will tie into the bike path, giving greater and easier access to this natural recreational area.
Selectman Paul Silva thanked the coalition through Decker for “The Bogs” recreational area saying it is a wonderful location for people to allow their dogs to run off leash.
The board also voted on annual reappointments of those sitting on numerous boards and commissions doing the work of the town mostly on a voluntary basis. A list of those appointments is available at the selectmen’s office.
On the subject of voluntarism, the Selectmen are seeking to fill several open seats on the Historical Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals. When asked what sort of qualification the board would be looking for, particularly for the open seats on the ZBA, Silva said, “…dedicated people, willing to participate at meetings on a regular basis, people who care about the community…” He indicated that it would be ‘on the job training,’ humorously interjecting “like being a Selectman.”
Earlier in the evening and prior to the beginning of the meeting, Melody Pacheco, Secretary to the Board of Selectmen, said that around 4:00 pm the Town Hall’s computer network system was attacked by a virus that had inadvertently been introduced into the system via an encrypted email from one of the town’s banking partners. At this writing, resolution of this problem remains unknown.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen is July 15 at 7:00 pm in Town Hall.
By Marilou Newell
