Known for his frugality – which is a positive term meaning a wise use of resources, manpower and money – Marion Harbormaster Michael Cormier came before the Capital Improvement Planning Committee on Thursday evening with his department’s requests for fiscal year 2015 – 2016.

“The outboard motor on the pump out-boat, as well as the work boat engine, need to be replaced,” said Cormier. Cormier explained that the pump-out boat pumps out an estimated 34,000 pounds of sewage per boating season. “The boat is a 2008 model and has 1400 hours on it and we paid approximately $2,000 in repairs this past season … so it’s time to replace the motor,” said Cormier.

Cormier plans to replace the pump-out boat motor with a state-of-the-art motor that would reduce the normal wear and tear associated with the constant shifting of the gears. Working with a Department of Fisheries grant, Cormier received a government bid for the motor in the amount of $17,107 which would be 75% reimbursed. “We’d pay approximately $4,277 out of pocket, but we will put the old motor out to bid and will recoup most of that,” said Cormier.

Cormier said that the existing motors will be offered ‘by bid’ to interested parties, and whatever amount is finalized will go back into the Waterways Account.

The work boat engine is a 2009 model with over 1400 hours on it. Recent maintenance costs were $1,600. The cost to replace the motor is estimated at $20,594.64. According to Cormier, with the amount of hours on the engine and the costly breakdowns, it is no longer cost effective to maintain the motor.

“I feel confident that the auction bids for the two motors (pump-out boat and work boat) will help lower the overall cost. The total cost of the project is $25,000 but will be supported by a transfer from the harbor waterways account, thus presenting no burden to the taxpayer,” said Cormier.

The Capital Improvement Planning Committee meets at the Marion Police Station on Thursday evenings and future appointments feature Rob Zora from the Department of Public Works at the February 13 meeting and Facilities Director Sean Cormier on February 20. On February 27, Fire Chief Tomas Joyce will present his requests. The committee is always seeking new members to help the town oversee fiscal issues. Visitors are always welcome and encouraged to attend.

The purpose of the committee is to review requests, ask questions on behalf of the town residents, and make recommendations regarding which items may or may not appear on the town warrant for town meeting approval or disapproval. The committee encourages any town residents who are interested in the day-to-day operation of the town and in the future tax implications of decisions to attend their meetings and provide input.

By Joan Hartnett-Barry

Mattapoisett has secured FEMA grant funds for studying the town’s ability to protect community assets in the event of flooding. Public buildings, bridges, roadways, and storm water culverts were among the types of assets the town department heads discussed on February 6.

The grant money afforded the town the opportunity to hire outside consultants to help various departments identify the type of assets critical to the town and then prepare a plan for protecting and/or repairing them after a storm event.

Michael Ohl, Principal and Senior Engineer, along with Natalie Koncki, Environmental Scientist, of Comprehensive Environmental Inc chaired the meeting along with Chief Mary Lyons of the Mattapoisett Police Department.

During a previous meeting, the department heads from inspectional services, Council on Aging, Conservation Commission, assessors’ office, fire suppression, water and sewer, highways, and police identified locations, buildings, infrastructure, and services that they considered to be town assets. They have identified: Center and Old Hammondtown Schools; all of Water Street; parts of Route 6 and River Road; town wharves; parts of Main Street; North Street; water treatment plant; all beach neighborhoods; YMCA; library; childcare centers; and the dam at River Road to name a few. They will continue to add to the list of sensitive locations, buildings, services and infrastructure assets over the coming weeks.

Ohl guided the group through the impact of flooding on the community using maps that modeled storm surges and floodwaters. The impact of flooding to coastal areas was obvious, but the upland impact was shocking. He explained that during a flood, emergency water keeps pushing inland and constricting into upland streams and rivers. Once the water reaches those upland waterways, it has no place to go but out to surrounding land. These waters take much longer to drain away than from coastal locations. One map modeled floodwaters pushing as far north as Tinkham Hill and Wolf Island Road.

Another aspect of the study is to document historical storm events as far back as the collective memory can recall. By using the impact of those events, the group will have another piece of the preparedness puzzle to help scope out their responses.

Possibly the most important piece of the puzzle discussed by the assembled was the human assets: the residents. The group was told by Ohl that being able to provide clear directives to community members, especially senior citizens, was critical.

On the topic of evacuation, Chief Lyons said that she could not mandate citizens to evacuate. She said her department could only suggest and implore people to leave for higher ground. Lyons said that once people decide to stay in place, they stand the chance of being trapped or endangered because emergency services can’t reach them.

Jacqueline Coucci, Executive Director for the Council on Aging, asked about emergency shelter if people don’t have any place to go. Lyons said the town has not offered that in the past. Coucci expressed concern that some seniors may not have anywhere to go and, faced with that dismal reality, might stay home. Lyons said “People have to be able to sustain themselves for up to 72 hours.” Coucci countered that she will plan to educate the population she serves with information that will help them understand the importance of having supplies and a place to go. Lyons concurred that education was critical for everyone. Other populations that might need extra help were also discussed, and Lyons felt confident that the town could do a great deal to assist those persons. Lyons said that her department can provide educational sessions at the COA so that seniors can learn how to be prepared for the worst. Coucci accepted that offer and said she would also plan some education through the COA newsletter.

There was some conversation about the ongoing problems around FEMA flood plain maps and rising insurance costs. Ohl said that postponing implementation of the maps was like “kicking the can down the road.” He said that the federal flood insurance program was not in good shape.

The group talked about signage around town that might help the community visualize what high floodwater would really mean. Director of Inspectional Services Andy Bobola said that during Hurricane Bob, the water reached 10 feet, that during Carol in 1954 it reached 11 feet, and it was 13 feet during the Hurricane of 1938. He also said that the town lost 108 residential structures during Hurricane Bob.

With this plan as a prerequisite to securing FEMA funds for storm remediation in the future, the department heads will continue to scope out all the areas of concern, historical data, and detailed impact on water and sewer and storm water drainage with the consultants.

By Marilou Newell

Remember, everyone, this is a draft. This is only a draft. School Committee Chairperson Michelle Cusolito provided this reminder on February 6 before round two of fiscal year 2015 budget talks, emphasizing that the committee is working on a draft budget and has not yet asked the townspeople for any funds.

“We have worked to make hard decisions and look at the needs of all our students,” said Cusolito. “In the end, we’ll be asking the voters to support our budget … but it is still a draft and it is still a work in progress.”

The second draft of the FY15 budget is a whittled down version of the first, down now to $5,440,000, which is $111,000 less that FY14.

To get there, an “adjustment” was made in the number of Rochester Memorial School staff members, resulting in the elimination of two classroom teachers, two paraprofessionals, and one reading teacher. The reading teacher, however, would be replaced by shifting one teacher from another area to Reading.

A part-time social worker was added, after having been cut completely in FY14, and the requested funding for a new math curriculum was removed to later appear as an article on the Town Meeting warrant.

Although the budget currently reflects a decrease, Superintendent Doug White commented that the budget would eventually wind up reflecting a $92,000 increase from FY14.

“When all is said and done,” said White, “there is an increase in the budget that the Town will need to support.”

Also discussed at the meeting, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Elise Frangos described ongoing efforts at exploring new math curricula for grades K-6; two programs have already been considered and two remain to investigate. Frangos said the Math Review Committee is looking for a “really optimal program” that will be phased in along with Mattapoisett’s two elementary schools.
“We’re looking at a unified program choice,” Frangos said, commenting that the committee was already considering “Everyday Math” as a strong contender. Frangos said this curriculum in particular would be a good choice for bringing the curriculum into alignment with new state Common Core standards.

At one point during the meeting, discussion over professional development days became an issue of some contention after the committee discussed the 2014-2015 school calendar in light of the question raised at the last Joint School Committee meeting: Should PD days be lumped together so two early release days could be eliminated?

White is a proponent of moving the two PD days into the week of Thanksgiving, and giving students the entire Thanksgiving week off, but at that January joint meeting, Frangos frankly stated that she did not support that philosophy. She cited “professional development fatigue” as a major reason, along with keeping the two PD days separate to allow teachers to learn new techniques, try them out, and then reassess them at the subsequent session.

The consensus among the committee is to keep PD scheduled as is, but School Committee Member Sharon Hartley candidly shared that she does not accept PD fatigue as a viable reason not to make the change, eliciting a few raised eyebrows and sighs among residents and educators in attendance.

No action will be taken on the 2014-2015 calendar until the Joint School Committee votes on the matter in March.

The committee approved the first annual Vocabulary Day at Rochester Memorial School to take place on Friday, April 4 at 9:45 am. The children will dress as a chosen vocabulary word, and members of the community will judge the best costumes.

The next Rochester School Committee meeting will be at 6:30 pm on March 6 at Town Hall.

By Jean Perry

Following the excitement of an earthquake centered in South Dartmouth about an hour before the Mattapoisett Selectmen’s meeting began, the board got down to running the business of the town.

Town Administrator Michael Gagne, during his report, told the selectmen of the work that has taken place regarding FEMA maps impacting flood plains and the ongoing issue of soaring flood insurance rates. He said that the town’s web site will now include comprehensive information on the Biggert-Waters Act that appears to be moving forward to implementation. Also on the web site will be the complete text of another piece of legislation trying to gain traction. The newer bill is titled Grimm-Waters-Richmond Homeowners Flood Insurance Affordability Act which reads in part: “Delays the implementation of rate increases on the following three types of properties until FEMA meets two requirements: 1) completes the affordability study mandated by the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, proposes a draft affordability framework for Congressional review, and Congress has a chance to give FEMA affordability authority; and 2) the FEMA Administrator certifies that the agency has implemented a flood mapping approach that utilizes sound scientific and engineering methodologies to determine varying levels of flood risk in all areas participating in the National Flood Insurance Program.:

            1. All homes and businesses that are currently “grandfathered.” These are properties that were built to code and later remapped into a higher risk area. Prior to Biggert- Waters, these policyholders were not penalized for relying on inaccurate FEMA flood maps.

            2. All properties that purchased a new policy after July 6, 2012, before they were legally required to purchase insurance.

            3. All properties sold after July 6, 2012. New homeowners and business owners will continue to receive the same treatment as the previous owner unless they trigger another provision in Biggert-Waters such as Severe Repetitive Loss, non-primary residence, substantial damage, etc.

            The measure requires FEMA to propose a draft regulatory framework to address any affordability issues identified by the study within 18 months after the completion of the study and establishes a six month period thereafter to provide for Congressional review. The House and Senate would then hold up or down votes through a privileged motion on giving FEMA the authority to propose regulations in accordance with the regulatory framework. If Congress approves this authority, the targeted freeze promulgated by this bill would continue until regulations are finalized. If not, the freezes would be lifted absent other Congressional action. Affordability measures addressed by the draft regulatory framework may include targeted assistance to individual policyholders and may consider the negative effects of rate increases and map changes on program participation. FEMA has estimated it will take two years to complete the affordability study before a draft regulatory framework can be provided to Congress.” Gagne said that flood insurance for local residents was first required in March 1973. He also went on to explain that residents should employ friends and relatives living throughout the country to lobby their Congressmen and Senators to back this bill. Noting that implementation of Biggert-Waters will impact interior locations subject to river flooding and not just coastal locations, he felt strongly that citizens everywhere should work together to try and keep insurance rates reasonable. He also said that people can visit www.floodsmart.gov for information on flood insurance rates.

Gagne said that the newly formed Flood Plain Committee has been meeting and will be charged with the responsibilities of pulling information together, studying FEMA mapping for any necessary corrections, and comparing FEMA mapping to topographical maps that will be available in the spring. He urged residents to visit the town’s website for new postings on these topics.

In other matters, Gagne applauded the efforts made by Bonne DeSousa of Friends of the Mattapoisett Bike Path. He recently met with her, at which time she requested that the selectmen send a letter to Scott Hamwey, who heads up Transportation Capital Investment Planning for the DOT. The letter would ask that bike path design and engineering be treated more like roadways in terms of funding, given the huge cost of performing these steps in the process of building a bike path. The selectmen agreed to send a letter.

Regarding the town’s solar project scheduled for construction by EMI at the closed landfill site, Gagne said that a technical review by NSTAR was underway and he hoped NSTAR would approve the project. He also said that Blue Wave Capital LLC, who is planning the commercial solar project situated on Tinkham Hill Road, has been in discussions with EMI regarding joint efforts for system upgrades prior to Phase 2 construction of both projects. NSTAR grid upgrades are required in order for the grid to be able to receive energy generated from solar production on a scale these two projects would ultimately provide.

Earlier in the evening, the board issued a common victualler’s license for the Mattapoisett Diner. New operator Matt Gamache was present and received a warm welcome and best wishes from the board, with Paul Silva saying, “Thank you for coming in so quickly, we don’t like seeing empty businesses.” Gamache also operates the Courtyard Restaurant and Jake’s Diner in Fairhaven.

The selectmen also accepted the resignation of Claudia Richards from the Council on Aging. Anyone interested in filling the position may contact the selectmen’s office. They voted to approve the appointment of Brett Fortin to the unexpired term formerly held by Tricia Weaver. A ‘Finance Policies and Procedure Document’ was approved and adopted for municipal use and lastly, Don Lake received approval for Mattapoisett Wharf Cruise Nights with dates set for May 2, 16; June 6, 20; July 11, 25; Aug 1, 15; and Sept 5 and 19.

Town Hall will be closed for Presidents’ Day on February 17, and the next meeting of the Board of Selectmen is February 25 at 7:00 pm.

By Marilou Newell

A second earthquake in 2014 was felt on the Southcoast today. A magnitude 2.4 quake centered just south of New Bedford was felt at about 5:45pm as reported by the Weston Observatory. The Marion Police Department reported receiving multiple calls from those who felt the movement.

Chairperson Naida Parker told Town Administrator Richard LaCamara that he was leaving behind “some awfully damned tough shoes to fill,” after LaCamara announced on February 10 that he will retire on July 1 of this year, after 32 years as a municipal worker, beginning in Lakeville.

“I really enjoyed my time here,” said LaCamara. He said the position is very demanding, as well as time-consuming. “You have to put a lot of hours in to do the job – and I’m too old…”

Before the selectmen made their way in to begin the meeting, LaCamara spoke candidly about his retirement plans and how he is fixing to spend his time.

“We have a place in Maine. That’s where you’ll find me,” laughed LaCAmara, “or not find me.” He said of his seven years in Rochester, “It used to be fun … I’m 66. I want to spend more time with my family and grandchildren and spend more time in Maine.”

He admitted he had been thinking before of retiring this past January, but decided he would see the Town through one last Town Meeting in May, use up the last of his vacation time beginning June 1, and officially retire of July 1.

“I’ve had a lot of fun, though,” said LaCamara. “Rochester is great. I’ve met some really nice people.” He continued, “I’ve had some challenges, but that comes with the territory.”

Parker said she wished LaCamara didn’t have to smile so much while telling the board he was leaving, adding that other departments will feel lost without him at times.

“They’re going to take this news with a bitter pill and say, ‘what are we gonna do now?’” said Parker. She said LaCamara just “knows what’s going on,” and that he will certainly be missed.

Also during the brief meeting, LaCamara told the board that the fiscal year 2015 budget still has “significant issues,” but much progress has been made in the process, especially with Old Rochester Regional. He said the expectation for a significant increase in Rochester’s contribution “is not there anymore,” although other “problem” budgets still have some “serious issues.”

“Overall, I think they’re in reasonably good shape,” stated LaCamara, but later adding, “It’s another tough year. Another tough year,” he repeated.

The Town is shooting for May 19 for Town Meeting, when the final budget will be presented for approval.

In other news, the board approved an amendment to the Town’s veterans services agreement with Mattapoisett, the only change being the date Mattapoisett would have to submit its the budget.

The board approved the permit for the Patriot Half Triathlon for June 14, voted to support the funding for mosquito control, and also approved the over expenditure of the snow and ice removal budget, which has now exceeded its limit for FY14.

The date of the next Board of Selectmen meeting is February 24, at 6:30 pm at Town Hall.

By Jean Perry