On the agenda for the April 7 meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board was Attorney John Williams, representing Brandt Island Realty Trust, regarding a requested amendment to the special residential development permit for ‘Brandt Point Village.’ As Williams had explained during the last meeting of the board and again on this evening, the market for three-bedroom homes versus two-bedroom homes was stronger. Therefore, the developer is seeking to amend their plans to increase the number of three-bedroom single-family homes that in turn would increase the total number of bedrooms in this cluster housing development. At the earlier meeting, Williams described in detail the high-tech septic system now planned for the project. With this system, he felt the increased number of bedrooms would be handled by a system that could handle 15,000 gallons of water treatment per day versus the older style system that could only handle 10,000. Noting that the developer, and not the town, had put limitations on the bedroom count, Williams now urged the board to make the amendment so that the DEP could then be engaged for review of the updated septic plan. However, the board members were not easily moved to do so.

Board member Karen Fields questioned the increased traffic volume more people in the development would bring. Member John Mathieu referenced a traffic study for the proposed project from six years earlier. The study didn’t differentiate the number of bedrooms in each home; it just recognized that the total number of homes was set at 41 units. Fields said that since the plan was changing, the impact on the neighborhood would also change, which would require due diligence in the form of a new public hearing. Williams felt that the board was taking an approach that limited growth in the town and went so far as to say that Mattapoisett was a “dying community.”

When Chairman Tom Tucker opened questions up to the public, Paul Osenkowski, a resident in the beach community, declared, “I demand a public hearing!” He said he was totally against this unless all the people in Brandt Island were made aware of the change and given an opportunity to voice their opinions. In a sidebar comment to this reporter, he said that the increase in wastewater, even if treated and purified, was more than the saturated beach geography could handle.

The board voted to hold a public meeting.

Also coming before the board was Brad Saunders representing the Bay Club. He said that three separate issues have arisen over time that impact the type of residential development allowed on the property. Saunders asked the board to consider: (1) Bay Club Holding desires to diversify the type of homes allowed in the development in an effort to appeal to another economic demographic. These homes would be smaller and/or duplexes (with zero lot lines and common walls); (2) Some lots are in the general business district, and they request that the board allow those spaces to be included in any open-space requirements in the future; and (3) Since the 1.5 acre parcel set aside for a water tower is still owned by the town and zoned light industry, they request that the designation be changed to allow the industrially zoned space as open space for any future development requirements for cluster housing. Chairman Tucker told Saunders that a public hearing on all of this would be required.

The other business taken up by the board was their ongoing work on by-law modifications for spring town meeting. A public hearing on the by-laws they have completed so far will take place on April 23 and April 30 at 7:00 pm in the conference room at Town Hall.

Member Ron Merlo asked the other board members to consider writing new by-laws for solar farms in light of recent developer requests for another commercial solar farm in Mattapoisett. He also read into the minutes a letter received from Peter Wolski of 4 Crystal Spring Road requesting that the board review the ‘priority protected’ status of the woodlands as part of the watershed area. Wolski further noted that in 2008, the area proposed for deforestation for the solar project contained a wellhead for public drinking water. Wolski also pointed out that government mapping in 2013 failed to show these protected areas and urged the board to review these matters. In closing, he wrote that cutting down the forest did not benefit the town.

The board decided to review the recently published solar by-laws from Marion and those from Rochester to help them develop language to present to the voters during the fall town meeting. They also plan to review and modify the text in the marine residence by-law for public review. “I think there will be a lot of discussion on the solar and marine residence by-laws,” said Tucker. He felt that they should strive to be ready for fall town meeting with those by-laws.

The Planning Board will hold public hearings on Wednesday April 23 at 7:00 pm and Wednesday April 30 at 7:00 pm at Town Hall.

By Marilou Newell

This elections spells a little bit of change for Rochester, with two incumbents voted out and two new candidates elected in.

For Rochester Memorial School Committee, Jennifer Kulak was the big winner with 212 votes, followed by Meagan Bennett with 165 votes, beating out running incumbent Timothy Sholz who took in 159 votes, and Cheryl Hebert who had 127.

Board of Health incumbent Sandra Keese had 170 votes – not enough to beat William David Souza and his 185 votes.

Write-in candidate for Planning Board Lee Carr received 71 of the 93 write-in votes, turning his currently appointed seat on the Planning Board into an officially elected one.

Election volunteers were a bit rattled after 8:30 pm when one single ballot went missing. There were several painstaking recounts until the ballot was discovered in the darkest corner of the voting machine and proudly held up high by Town Clerk and Selectman Naida Parker as the others quickly put their jackets on to leave.

“We would be nothing if we weren’t thorough,” stated Parker, who maintained her uncontested position as Town Clerk, with 336 votes.

Voter turn-out was roughly 10%, with 402 out of the 4,092 registered Rochester voters exercising their right to vote on April 9.

By Jean Perry

Click here to see the complete results

The April 8 meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen found an agenda full of upcoming summertime events and programs and the approaching Town Meeting.

Delighting all in attendance was an appointment with young Alex Craig who has spearheaded a memorial honoring Milton Silveria. Craig was back to report on his fundraising efforts. He reported a fund of $3110 to erect a plaque at Ned’s Point noting Silveria and his many accomplishments. Craig has also received a granite donation from Charles Dupont to which the bronze plaque will be affixed. He requested an appointment to meet with one or more of the selectmen to visit Ned’s Point and select the best location for the erection of the memorial. Chairman Tim Macallister will meet with Craig during school vacation week. Craig received a round of applause from all for his efforts to bring this project full circle.

Several organizations were on the agenda to receive approval for their upcoming events. They were: Healing Little Hearts Road Race scheduled for October 13; Jessica Webb with Yoga at Veterans Park June 7 through September 20 from 8:00 to 9:15 am; and the Lions Club with movies in Shipyard Park beginning at the end of June and continuing through August, Harbor Days, and the Triathlon.

Don Bamberger, King Lion, told the board that he has an opportunity to bring the World Series Trophy to Mattapoisett for a few hours during Harbor Days. Although the board felt this was a great chance for local people to see the trophy and have their picture taken with it, it also presented some challenges in terms of traffic and crowd control. It was decided that Town Administrator Mike Gagne will discuss this with Police Chief Mary Lyons, and report to the selectmen. They felt that challenge could be managed, but it required police input.

Next came John DeSousa, Chairman of the Community Preservation Committee, to review their work over the past year in bringing the committee into alignment, including the building of a master plan. He continued by sharing the list of funding requests they will present at town meeting. He noted that they received seven applications this year and will be able to fund them all either in full or in part. Those requests in order of their prioritization were: 1) repairs to town beach house; 2) bike path committee engineering needs; 3) recreation department tot lot at Center School; 4) repairs to town wharf; 5) tree warden work at Barlow Cemetery; 6) Mattapoisett Historical Society for catalog system; and 7) Buzzards Bay Coalition – Nasketucket Reservation land purchase.

DeSousa said, “We decided to take it all to town meeting and let the people decide where they want to spend the money.” The selectmen were pleased with the work of the committee and thanked them for their efforts. With the completion of this year’s funding requests, the committee will now suspend its work until next September when the cycle begins again.

Capital Planning was next to come before the board with the completion of their work leading up to Town Meeting. Chairman Chuck McCullough took them through the 2015 capital budget and their list of priorities that feature: (1) fire department’s Engine 4 repairs coming in at $15,000; (2) police utility vehicle – $35,000; (3) library window repairs – $7,000; (4) fire department Engine 2 refurbishment – $125,000; (5) new ambulance – $200,000; (6) local school combined computer infrastructure upgrades – $49,000; (7) local schools technology upgrades – $30,000; (8) Hammond Street parking – $18,500; (9) local schools playground repairs – $21,000; (10) beach raft repairs – $10,000; (11) office equipment (town hall) – $13,400; (12) road sign project – $22,000; (13) highway department building repairs – $40,000; (14) library generator – $50,000; (15) fire department station vehicle – $36,000; (16) highway department utility vehicle – $50,000; (17) new math curriculum – $49,000; and (18) new police cruiser – $32,500. Enterprise businesses will be processed independently from this group of capital needs.

Capital Planning will meet with Financial Committee on Wednesday, April 9 to review the plan in line-by-line detail and develop the final submissions for the town meeting warrant. Gagne praised the tireless work of the committee saying, “…back in October when Standard and Poor were here they were impressed with the town’s Capital Planning … having a 10-year plan … it is a credit to you and that you serve so well.”

MattSail’s prime-movers were last to meet with the selectmen. They gave a three-part presentation. First, John Mello gave an overview of the program features and the number of people served by the program annually (approximately 80 per year). Bob Goguen gave a review of their current financial and charity status highlighting the limitations of funds. And then Pat Donoghue put a fine point to it all, saying that the group hoped the town would continue support in the form of free use of the beach house. After some discussion, it was decided that MattSail would attempt to partner with the Recreation Department to determine if a full-day program between these two groups could be developed with the possibility of offering a few sailing slots to youths who otherwise would not have an opportunity to participate in the program. While there are a few scholarships available through MattSail, Gagne said there were other families who might also be served. Further conversations will ensue between the two organizations.

Gagne rounded out the evening with a very brief report saying that audio difficulties with the in-house transmissions will be reviewed with service providers to try and fix the poor quality of the audio from town hall meetings. He also said that the Tri-Town selectmen’s meeting is set for Thursday, April 10 at 7:00 pm at the media center at ORRHS. At that time, he said that the selectmen will be discussing the recent disclosure of electronic hacking and theft, what protocols might be put in place to keep all vested parties informed moving forward and how to assist with the recovery of funds still missing. “We all have to look out for each other’s back,” he said.

Spring Town Meeting is May 12, 13, and 14 (if needed) at ORRHS. The next selectmen’s meeting is April 22 at 7:00 pm.

By Marilou Newell