What appeared to be a clarification of the Table of Principal Uses (similar to a Table of Contents) in the Solar By-Law opened a lengthy and spirited discussion on possible additional amendments to the by-law. Members of the Marion Planning Board and two from the Marion Energy Management Committee commented on the proposed amendment at the Tuesday morning meeting.

The Planning Board proposed an article to be placed on the warrant for spring town meeting to amend Section 4.2 of the zoning by-law to clarify the Table of Principal Uses to make it easier for residents and other interested parties to find what they are looking for within the many pages of the Solar By-Law. The Special Planning Board meeting was held because the warrant is expected to be closed for further amendments by the end of the week.

Member Ted North presented a revised version of the Table of Principal Uses with a chart outlining which type of solar system was permitted within the various zoning districts in town.

The board discussed the public notice published in The Wanderer for the April 7, 2014 Planning Board meeting which, some members felt, was not as clear as it could have been in explaining what was to be discussed. After much discussion, the board agreed to republish the meeting notice with the additional information.

Town Administrator Paul Dawson weighed in on the discussion and said “there is no law that says that verbatim text be published.” Secretary Terri Santo spoke up and said that all the notices state that the public is invited to come into the Town House and view all documents and ask questions about upcoming meetings.

After much discussion, the board voted to present two Tables of Principal Uses to the public at town meeting including the one published in the meeting notice and the one presented by Ted North. It was unclear if the two amendments would be combined in one warrant article.

A public hearing on the issue is scheduled for April 7 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Town House.

Next up the board voted to accept, with minor changes, the new zoning map of the Town of Marion. John Rockwell presented his final draft and the board made a few minor changes.

The map includes seventeen districts including: Residence A; Residence B; Residence C; Residence D; Residence E; General Business; Marine Business; Limited Industrial; Limited Business; Flood Hazard District; Water Supply Protection District; Aquifer Protection District; Open Space Development District; Surface Water District; Wireless Communications Facilities Overlay District; Sippican River Overlay District; and a Municipal Solar Overlay District.

The acceptance of the map will be voted upon at town meeting in May and if approved, forwarded to the Attorney General’s office as required.

The pdf file of the map will soon be available to the public on the town web site and on the Planning Board section of the site.

“Thank you John, for all your work and effort on the town’s behalf,” said Chairman Pat McArdle. The board thanked Mr. Rockwell for his hours of service on the project.

By Joan Hartnett-Barry

As Mattapoisett’s Capital Planning Committee continues its work of meeting with various town departments to review their 2016 needs and the five-year plan, Chairman Chuck McCullough explained the task of the committee. He said that after the committee completes all departmental financial reviews, the members will then debate the prioritization of each line item request. The committee members are: Alan Apperson (member-at-large); Jeremy Collier (banking); John DeCosta (recreation); Jim Muse (schools); Ellen Driscoll (member-at-large); and Chuck McCullough (Chairman and member-at-large). There is one open position that would represent construction. Town Administrator Michael Gagne frequently attends these meeting to shed light on the work of the Finance Committee and to discuss the merits of each departmental budget submission.

Once the Capital Planning committee achieves a consensus on which expenses are most critical, based on the submissions they have received and the justifications offered by department heads, they’ll meet with the Finance Committee to present their findings. In partnership, the two committees will finalize the process and then pass their report along for the Selectmen’s review. The Board of Selectmen will then prepare the warrant that includes the expenses needed to run the town. At Town Meeting, it will be the voters who will decide the final fate of each financial request. Capital Planning reviews all requests over $10,000 and sometimes elects to have a request moved to a departmental budget versus an annual capital request.

Recently, such an expense was discussed when the committee met with members of the local schools whose turn it was to discuss their needs. Ryan Magee presented the technology needs of Center and Old Hammondtown Schools. Magee said that system/network upgrades are ongoing and needed before iPad carts could be used in the schools. These carts are similar to those currently used in other industries such as medical facilities where mobile units bring the computer into a space versus having the computer in a fixed location. Such technology requires wireless conductivity.

Network systems upgrades were viewed by the committee as capital expenses, while equipment (computers) were viewed as a school budget line item since those are typically replaced with greater regularity.

It was further noted that in coming years, books will be replaced with computers and although this isn’t happening now, it is on the horizon. Muse told the group that with the arrival of new standardized testing (PARCC – Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers), schools will need to have wireless computer capabilities since the majority of the program’s curriculum is internet based. The new math portion comes with a price tag of $7,000 per class for kindergarten through sixth grades.

The facilities portion of the schools’ capital funding needs was also discussed with Gene Jones, who heads up this department. Jones needs funds to replace the roof over the kitchen area at Old Hammondtown School. Replacement flooring for deteriorating floor tiles is also needed at this school, along with playground renovations that are mandated by Federal regulations. He said that the rubberized surface in the playground is in very bad condition, but has lasted long beyond its five-year warranty. He expects to have cost estimates in the coming days. Security camera upgrades were also discussed as a necessity with costs estimated around $26,000. It is planned that in the future, the schools’ security systems will be tied to the police department system for improved safety.

Mattapoisett Library Director Susan Pizzolato was next. She was disappointed to deliver the news that the windows in the new library building are failing at an alarming rate. “It’s a shame, but they need to be fixed,” Pizzolato stated. She added that between increased utility bills and rotting from water intrusion, the windows were a top priority. She estimated that presently 17 windows need to be fixed for an estimated cost of $6,446. Pizzolato also has a generator on her wish list, saying that during a storm emergency she would like the library to be more serviceable to the community. This brought up the fact that the library in is a flood zone area further necessitating a generator to run pumps that would push out storm water. The projected cost of the generator is $49,000.

Before the committee wrapped up business for the evening, Gagne said that Fire Chief Andrew Murray had received updated figures for a new fire station. The new figure was $3.5 million. He said that an exploratory committee is being formed to research a new fire department building and the needs of town hall. Continuing, he said that this committee will investigate the merits of ongoing repairs to the town hall on Main Street or building a new one. There have been some conversations about bringing both the fire department and town hall offices to property located adjacent to the police station, property that the town already owns. “We’ve talked about sharing meeting spaces in a combined building,” Gagne stated.

The Capital Planning Committee meets again on Wednesday, March 26 at 6:00 pm. They are scheduled to meet with the harbormaster, recreation director, and with Gagne.

By Marilou Newell

On March 25 at 11:25pm, the Mattapoisett Police Department received a call from an alarm monitoring company reporting a called in burglar alarm at 27 North Street.

The first arriving Officer could smell smoke shortly after arriving on scene and requested that the Fire Department be dispatched.  Upon further investigation by the Police Officer, he discovered heavy fire showing from two windows on the side of the house and quickly updated the FD with this information.

The Fire Department arrived on scene moments later and battled the fire during thirty mile per hour winds and frigid temperatures for thirty five minutes until it was brought under control.  Due to an aggressive interior attack by the Firefighters, the progression of the fire was immediately stopped.  There were no injuries reported as a result of this fire.  The damage is expected to be in excess of one hundred thousand dollars.  An investigation proved that the initial burglar alarm was set off by this fast moving fire and subsequently resulted in the notification to the Fire Department.

The Marion Fire Department responded to the scene and assisted us with their ladder truck and personnel.  Fairhaven Fire responded with an Engine company and covered our station as well as the remainder of town.  The Massachusetts State Fire Marshalls Office in conjunction with the State Police assisted at the scene with the investigation in determining the cause of the fire.  At this point in time, the fire is still under investigation.  The last Fire Department unit cleared the scene just prior to 5am on March 26^th, 2014.

A couple of last-minute candidates returned nomination papers before the deadline passed on March 24, and voters can anticipate three contested races: Board of Selectmen, Planning Board and Marion School Committee.

W. Dale Jones is running against incumbent Selectman Stephen Cushing in the race for Board of Selectmen. Jones ran for Selectman in 2013, but lost to current Selectman Jonathan Henry. Cushing is seeking his fourth term as selectman.

There are four candidates vying for three seats on the Planning Board, with only one incumbent, Edwin North. Running against North are Michael Popitz, Robert Lane, and Eileen Marum.

Two incumbents running for the Marion School Committee, Michelle Ouellette and Christine Winters, have been joined by Kate Ellen Houdelette to make this a contested race. Houdelette pulled papers on March 12 and returned them on March 21 in time for the deadline.

Tree Warden Timothy Crowley is not running for reelection, and no candidates have filed nomination papers with the town clerk. Stephen Curtis Gonsalves pulled papers on March 18, but did not return to file them.

The candidates for the remaining elected positions are incumbents running uncontested. These candidates are Ray Pickles for town clerk, Catherine Gibbs for assessor, David Titus for moderator, Elizabeth Dunn for Board of Health, Paul Goulet Jr. for Old Rochester Regional School Committee, and Joseph Keogh and Jeffrey Oakes for the two slots on the Open Space Acquisition Commission.

Election Day is Friday, May 16 and the polls are open from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm.

By Jean Perry