When a conflict in time and location occurred during the Wednesday meeting of the Marion Conservation Commission, Chairman Norm Hills took it all in stride and herded the board, audience and presenters into Diane Drake’s office.

The relocation was necessary because the Marion School Committee, due to a scheduling conflict, was occupying the space where the Marion Conservation Commission usually met.

Drake is the Conservation Commission’s secretary, the ‘go to gal’ for the board, and all-around town person for conservation questions and issues.

Drake’s office was quite cozy, informal and comfortable with photos of her and her family, friends, and an apparently loved pet, a Great Dane.

One of the applicant’s representatives brought his son, who read a book during the proceedings, which made for an intimate group of citizens in a very small space.

As things go, everyone adapted.

After getting comfortable on the frigid evening, the board, applicants and attendees discussed the agenda, with the first item being the committee’s cancelled site visit to 21 Autumn Lane. Carol C. and Peter H. Hulton have submitted a Request for Determination of Applicability to construct a 14’ by 16’ foot single-story dining room addition with a small entry porch and steps behind the garage.

Chairman Norm Hills opened the discussion by saying that the snowstorm last Saturday delayed the appointed visitation prior to the meeting. “I can’t remember the last time we could not do an inspection,” said Hills, who has been a board member for many years.

Secretary Diane Drake responded by saying that there have only been four times in twenty years when a site visit has been cancelled.

On the Houlton request, Mr. Hills said that a wetland behind the house requires the committee to do a site visit before making a recommendation. Due to the snowstorm the previous weekend, the site visit did not occur, and the board agreed that a visit, in decent weather, was needed before a decision could be made.

Next up was a Request for Determination of Applicability for Chapter 91 Waterways licensing of an existing gangway and float – the pier itself is already licensed ­– by N. George and Laurie A. Host of 456 Point Road.

David Davignon of D. Schneider & Associates represented the applicant. According to Davignon, the current owners purchased the property in 2012, and the previous owner had been putting in a float and taking it out for over 35 years. Davignon noted that the Harbormaster was aware of the practice.

“We want to get rid of the annual permitting of putting the float in and out and make it permanent, although that may not be right now,” said Davignon. The board agreed to discuss the issue.

Cynthia Callow Trinidad, who was approved to be an associate member of the Conservation Commission at the December meeting, attended the meeting and joined in the discussion of the matters at hand. The committee welcomed her aboard as an Associate Member.

By Joan Hartnett-Barry

The Tri-Town had a brief shake up this morning. At 10:52am many from Marion to Dartmouth felt a short rumble lasting only a couple seconds. The Weston Observatory reported that a 1.9 to 2.3 seismic event was detected centered about 10 miles North West of New Bedford.

Shaun Cormier, the recently hired Facilities Administrator for the town of Marion, took center stage at the Marion Board of Selectmen’s meeting held at the Town House on Tuesday.

Cormier provided a handout, with photos, and said that his report included a preliminary review of the town’s capital assets and his impressions of what needs to be done in order of priority.

He stressed that he is new to the town and needs time to analyze each and every capital asset, as his job requires, but that the task will take time. Cormier said that he will help the town in its efforts to assess the assets and make recommendations on maintaining and keeping the facilities up to date.

“The Music Hall is the number one priority,” said Cormier, “because a roof replacement and gutter repair are in order.” A repointing in various areas of the brick building was also noted as a project to be completed over time. The report noted that gutter damage at the southwest corner of the building is causing water infiltration in the basement that could spell major problems in the future if not corrected soon.

Cormier noted that local resident Bill Saltonstall, a retired architect and solar energy expert and all around ‘great guy’, has drafted a plan to remediate the ground water that is seeping into the basement floor and causing the interior walls of the building to deteriorate. Saltonstall is volunteering his time and energy on behalf of the town.

Other projects include replacing the dugout roofs at Washburn Park and exchanging restroom light fixtures with ‘vandal resistant’ fixtures for proper safety and security. A pump house located in the southeast corner of the park needs to become structurally sound, and Cormier said that the project might be ideal for Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School. Cormier will look into that possibility.

Other projects include repairs to the shower stalls at Silvershell Beach and to the conservation signs at town properties. All wooden flagpoles around town need to be replaced by fiberglass poles to reduce maintenance issues, according to Cormier.

Next up was a hearing with Shellfish Officer Isaac Perry who recommended a six-month suspension of a commercial shellfish license for Nicholas Carnazza. “Two incidents occurred on December 11 and December 13, 2013 with commercial violations committed. I recommend a six-month suspension of the license,” said Perry. Each citation, according Perry, resulted in a $25 fine. “I believe the fines are not enough to have it sink in and that a six-month suspension is needed,” said Perry.

Selectmen Jon Henry asked various questions, noting that he had five children and that people make mistakes and learn from them. “Do you understand the seriousness of this?” asked Henry. “Yes, I do sir,” replied Carnazza.

Selectman Steve Cushing noted that a commercial license demanded more, and was held to a higher standard, than an individual license to shellfish.

After some discussion, Selectman Henry said that he suggested a 90-day suspension rather than a six-month suspension due to the fact that young people learn lessons as they grow and figure out how the world works. “I recommend a 90-day suspension,” said Henry. Cushing agreed, but Selectman Jody Dickerson sided with Shellfish Officer Isaac Perry’s recommendation of a six-month suspension.

Before voting, Henry told Carnazza that ‘one more violation’ from the shellfish officer would eliminate his license forever. “We believe in learning lessons, and that’s what we hope will happen here,” said Henry.

Next up was a discussion regarding the fireworks for Saturday, July 5, at Silvershell Beach, if they happen. “We need more committee members,” said Selectman Dickerson. “We are ahead of where we were last year, so that’s very positive. Come join our committee and make our July 4th happen here in Marion,” said Dickerson in an appeal to the public. If interested, contact Jody Dickerson at the Marion Recreational Department at 13 Atlantis Drive in Marion or call the Marion Recreation Department at 774-217-8355.

In other business, the board approved two separate one-day all-alcohol licenses for the Marion Social Club – one for a clam boil from noon to 4:00 pm on January 16 and the other for a steak dinner to be held from noon to 4:00 pm on March 2.

By Joan Hartnett-Barry

An updated Geographic Information System (GIS) draft of a map of Marion dominated the discussion at Monday’s meeting of the Marion Planning Board. A 1999 version of the town map was shown with updates to bring it up to 2014 standards.

John Rockwell, a Marion resident, came before the board asking for certification from the Planning Board for a proposed map that will be submitted to the Attorney General of Massachusetts for approval.

Rockwell told the board that the current town map needed to be updated and submitted to the Attorney General to reflect the newly-enacted Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regulations as well as to provide a view of the town’s current zoning by-law overlay.

The town, according to Rockwell, must submit an updated map to the state. “The lot lines [on the new map] reflect the true elevation required by FEMA,” said Rockwell.

Rockwell did his homework and showed the 1999 version of the town map with various updates approved at town meetings through the years. The new map now shows overlays of the Sippican River, the surface water overlay, and current FEMA flood plain districts.

After listening to Rockwell’s presentation and reviewing the facts presented, the board agreed that six changes in zoning had occurred and had been approved at town meetings since 1999, with the last change occurring on October 10, 2013 with the approval of a solar array at the town landfill.

A lively discussion ensued after the presentation by Rockwell, who is a representative for the Buzzards Bay Coalition, the Buzzard’s Bay Estuary Program, and who is also a consultant to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on wetlands and endangered species.

Mr. Rockwell is a former member of the Marion Planning Board who served for over six years, and he is also an expert in flood plain management and Federal Emergency Management Agency regulations. In 1994, Mr. Rockwell wrote a grant that helped the Buzzards Bay Estuary Program gain a computer program to track wetland and marsh data. “There were no aerial photos back then,” said Rockwell.

“This is a draft, as presented,” said Rockwell, as he gave each member of the Planning Board a copy of the proposed map. “The last zoning map of Marion was in 1999 which showed special uses and revisions from previous years,” said Rockwell.

Board member, Steve Kokkins, standing in for Chairman, Pat McArdle who could not attend, said that it was ‘high time to have a revision’ of the old map of the town.

Rockwell said that the updated map, with overlays, will offer town residents a view of the town that was not previously available to town residents.

“It’s like back in anatomy class where you can overlay the parts of the body … now we can overlay, like a transparency, and flip to see where the Sippican River Overlay is located, where the Surface Water Overlay is, and where the Flood Plan Districts are and much more,” said Rockwell.

Member Jay Ryder asked if the web version was like Google Earth. “Yes, if approved, this version will be, via the Attorney General’s Office, will be available to all on the web,” said Rockwell.

Member Norm Hills asked if the format for the new map will align with the assessors’ new software that was recently approved at the fall town meeting. Mr. Rockwell said that he would consult with the town assessors and coordinate, if possible, on the new map.

A major discussion ensued regarding the updating of the map. Board member Ted North spoke up and said that “We try to know what is the latest updated map, but what is the reference.” North has spent much personal time in researching and presenting his opinions, as a Marion resident, for the town’s future.

The board agreed that input from various boards was needed before they signed the map as the resource for town documentation. Comments from the Department of Public Works, the Building Commissioner, Conservation Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, as well as the Public Safety sector, will be considered before the board decides on the issue.

In another discussion, the board agreed that a town warrant article, proposing that the town agree to hire a part time town planner, be put on the warrant for the spring town meeting.

In other business, the board approved the fiscal 2014 budget for the committee at approximately $14,400.

By Joan Hartnett-Barry