Selectmen called for a Special Town Meeting for May 19 at 6:45 pm, just before Rochester’s Annual Town Meeting that same evening at 7:00 pm. Article submission deadline was set for Friday, April 10 so selectmen can review the articles at their April 14 meeting.

Town Administrator Richard LaCamera said only a few reserve fund transfers would likely appear on the Special Town Meeting warrant at this point.

Also during the meeting, LaCamera announced that a Tri-Town joint meeting of the Boards of Selectmen is scheduled for April 10 at 7:00 pm at the ORR High School media center room. LaCamera said the ORR School Committee would also be present at the meeting to discuss the investigation of the 2011 cyber-theft of at least, but possibly more than, $100,000.

In other news, the ice and snow removal budget is up to $41,000 and is expected to climb with the anticipated Wednesday, March 26 snowstorm.

“It just isn’t gonna end,” said LaCamera. “It’s really a little discouraging at this point.”

Later, selectmen received a letter informing them that if the Town had adopted the Community Preservation Act and charged residents a CPA tax, the Town could have received another $27,000 in CPA funding in addition to the taxes collected. The $27,000 amount is based on the real estate transactions for 2013.

Selectmen announced a Rabies Clinic set for April 27 from 12:00 to 2:00 pm at the Rochester Grange located at 205 Hartley Road. The cost is $12 per shot. Dogs must be leashed, and cats must be confined in a transfer cage.

Selectman Naida Parker reminded residents that on April 9, the Rochester Annual Election Day, polls are open from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. Absentee ballots are already available at the Town Clerk’s office, and the only two contested races are for the Board of Health and the Rochester School Committee.

The board also proclaimed April 8 “Equal Pay Day” in Rochester, joining the rest of the nation in bringing awareness to the disparity in wages for women in comparison with men.

The next public meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen will be April 7 at 6:30 pm at Town Hall. The selectmen are meeting in executive session with the Finance Committee on March 31. No public meeting is scheduled for March 31.

By Jean Perry

Crystal Spring Road residents came out to hear how the Conservation Commission would handle wetland issues at the latest site planned for solar harvesting in Mattapoisett. Blue Wave LLC was fully prepared for and aware of abutter concerns and the need to address ConCom questions. Local engineer Rich Charon did most of the speaking as he laid out the scope of the project, storm water remediation, wildlife displacement, and construction cycle site conditions. Aidan Foley, Senior Director at Blue Wave gave a high-level overview of the company and their commitment to be good neighbors before, during and after the construction of Mattapoisett’s third solar farm project. Yet the abutters and neighbors in attendance still had questions and Chairman Peter Newton was not pleased.

While noting that his job was to enforce the wetlands protection act and various other environmental regulatory rules, Newton was also displeased to hear that trees along Interstate 195 would be removed. “Twenty acres of solar panels … that’s the introduction to our town … that’s what our town is becoming,” he stated. Charon said that yes, trees would be removed along that boundary but the entire site would not be exposed on that side.

Judy Mooney, whose property abuts the project asked, “Is this a done deal?” She continued, “That is a lot of woods you are getting rid of, it’s really close to my house … but, my issue is taking down all those trees, go to the dump, I don’t mind you going there…”

Nancy Gauvin, also an abutter, asked if there was anyone who was really going to make sure the animals were protected and if Blue Wave would be building on the other side of the utility power lines as well. Foley said that they are looking at other suitable locations in Mattapoisett and throughout the area for more solar farm developments.

Tom Hanks, another Crystal Springs resident, asked, “Are we being preyed on because we don’t have any protection?” Chairman Newton responded, “If I was in business, I’d go wherever it’s easiest.” Andy Bobola, Director of Inspectional Services, said that the Planning Board is reviewing by-laws and suggested approaching them on developing by-laws for this type of business activity.

Several residents spoke up about the issue of water. Storm water runoff due to deforestation was questioned. Charon said that the same amount of water would fall, but how it was recharged into the ground or the speed of the flow were issues.

It was noted that given that the site borders wetlands on two sides, there are numerous issues for ConCom to consider – more than a part-time department could handle. It was decided that Blue Wave would fund outside peer review so that issues of wetlands, wildlife and storm water management could be professionally evaluated. The application was continued until April 28 to give the town and Blue Wave more time to gather environmental details.

Also coming before the commission was John Marvin, 14 Mechanic Street, with a request for determination of applicability to build an addition to the existing home. Represented by Jon Connell of Field Engineering, the commission heard that the construction will follow all FEMA guidelines for flood considerations. Marvin’s application was approved.

The Town of Mattapoisett also came before the commission for three road resurfacing projects, each with slightly different issues. Bayberry Lane, Ash Terrace, Acorn Lane, and Hemlock Lane, a cul-da-sac development off North Street, need resurfacing and some storm water management to control erosion. Shady Oak Drive, across North Street from Bayberry needs resurfacing and the cul-da-sac needs extensive renovations. Finally, Eldorado Drive also requires resurfacing. The projects were approved with standard conditions.

Richard Wells of 10 Woodland Avenue filed a notice of intent for the construction of a garage addition to the existing home located in a coastal flood plain and buffer zone. Charon Engineering represented the applicant. He told the commission the garage will be built with break-away partitions in compliance with FEMA requirements. The application was approved.

Stephany Hiller and Dan Wierich, 74 Aucoot Road, also came before the commission with a notice of intent to tear down the existing structure and build a new four-bedroom house with a garage, deck, and gravel driveway. The home will be built on stilts and have break-away panels. They have to go to the Board of Health and will be required to install a Title 5 compliant septic system. Their project was approved.

David Davignon of Schneider Engineering represented Jay Duker, 112 Aucoot Road, coming before the commission for continuation of their notice of intent to present updated plans which now include erosion control details, the installation of underground propane tanks, plantings along the wetlands delineation and that they have received a permit from the Board of Health. Satisfying all the questions the commission presented, the project was approved with standard orders of conditions.

Davignon then represented Daniel Oliver of 40 Water Street with a second round of amended order of conditions for the building of a pier. The project is now considerably downsized since DEP has extended eel grass beds in the same space. ConCom approved the new plans.

The last hearing of the evening was for the application filed by Mr. and Mrs. James Barron of 36 Water Street. They were petitioning for underground utilities, a balcony, and the building of a new garage. Abutters were concerned with storm water management, especially near the church. Ray Andrews of 49 Water Street said that he and his brother were both alarmed that a garage would be allowed on the lot but he was reminded by Newton that the commission was only concerned with wetland-related issues and not zoning issues. The commission approved the project with storm water management conditions, the installation of a water tight underground utility bunker and sewers and standard conditions.

Before adjourning, Bobola asked Newton if he could take a moment to express his deep appreciation to Tammy Ferreira who has been filling in at the ConCom office and during meetings of late, making it possible for that department to carry on the business of the town without missing a beat. He also thanked Conservation Agent Elizabeth Leidhold for going above and beyond the call of duty managing a great volume of work for the town and the ConCom office during this time as well. Everyone on the commission acknowledged those sentiments with sincere gratitude.

Mattapoisett’s Conservation Commission meets again on April 14 at 6:30 pm.

By Marilou Newell

In what proved to be a bit of a sticky wicket, Mattapoisett’s Zoning Board of Appeals continued the hearing of Mary Flaherty’s application. Flaherty came before the ZBA to request permission to build a new home at 4 Woodlawn Avenue on a lot that is non-conforming. Presently, the lot has a small deteriorating shed and utility building that she plans to either demolish or relocate on the parcel. The new home would then be situated primarily outside the flood zone and thereby not require pilings. Both architect Steve Keller and engineer Robert Field made the case for their client that the new home would not negatively impact the site or the abutting homes. The proposed residence would have a footprint of only 700 square feet and overall 1500 feet when the two-story home is completed. To accommodate the FEMA requirements, the planned home would be 16.2 feet in elevation and 28 feet tall at its highest point. Flaherty’s petition requested use of historic setbacks. Her plan has already cleared any wetland issues through an earlier conservation commission hearing. However, the abutters are not pleased.

Carol Helliwell of 6 Woodlawn Avenue was the first to object, stating that the computer-generated rendition presented by Keller that demonstrates how the proposed home will fit into the neighborhood was misleading. She said that while the drawing makes it appear that there are empty lots between the homes, in reality the homes would only be 50 to 70 feet apart. But her bombshell moment was when she told the ZBA of lot line movements that occurred at the time she purchased her home from the Flaherty family. She said that at that time, a Form A involving the changing of existing lot lines had been enacted, challenging the applicant’s right to use historic set-backs or a grandfathered lot. “This new home will loom over my house,” she declared.

According to Andy Bobola, Director of Inspectional Services for the town, a Form A is the creation of a lot with frontage on an existing roadway. He told the board that his office had not uncovered any activity of this sort regarding these properties, but needed additional time to follow-up on Helliwell’s assertion.

David Ross of 2 Woodlawn Avenue, whose property abuts the other side of the Flaherty’s parcel, also objected to the construction of the new home. He said that the property has never been used as a residence; rather, it was always just a campsite used infrequently by the Flahertys. “They were only there once last summer,” Ross stated. Although there is electricity going to the parcel, there are no other services.

Bobola suggested to the ZBA that they continue the hearing to give his office and other town offices an opportunity to research any Form A documentation filed with the town. Although it is rare that the ZBA continues a hearing, on this night they elected to do so in order to give the petitioner and the building department ample time to provide clarity in this matter.

Clearing all hurtles earlier in the evening, Denise Cassese received approval to build a new home on a site located on Harbor Road. This lot has not been built on previously and required permission for use of grandfathered frontage and setbacks. With no objections from the public, the application was unanimously approved.

The Mattapoisett ZBA meets again on April 17 at 6:00 pm in the Town Hall meeting room.

By Marilou Newell