With under two weeks to go until Fall Town Meeting, Marion officials are hoping voters will approve upward of $349,000 to improve EMS service.

Special Article 4 reads as follows: “To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds in the Treasury the sum no to exceed $349,108 to supplement the Fiscal Year 2014 Fire Department budget for the purpose of augmenting ambulance staffing and

related expenses; or take any other action thereon.”

Town Administrator Paul Dawson had announced at a recent Board of Selectmen meeting that Marion had launched the bidding process for private ambulance service – which would be less expensive, but potentially less invested in the community – in case voters rejected the appropriation. As the bids start to come in, Dawson said he understands that many residents are opposed to the idea.

“I understand how people feel about the private ambulance service,” said Dawson, noting that there are others who are either ambivalent or in favor of privatization. “It’s not my first choice.”

During an interview last week, Dawson reaffirmed that the bidding process in place is “to be prepared,” and said that he had told prospective bidders that he “was even hoping that we wouldn’t have to use them.”

But Dawson also said that the town can’t have it both ways.

“We have a very real problem with our response times, significant deficiencies that the state’s Office of Emergency Services has told us that we have to improve upon if we’re to hold on to our license,” he said. “Things are unacceptable as they stand. We have to have a staffing plan that’s mindful of the town’s needs. If you don’t want to create new benefitted positions, that’s fine, but there are limited alternatives.

“I have a responsibility to make certain that when someone picks up the phone to call 911, somebody is there,” Dawson said. “I’ve got to have someone ready to go. I’ve got to have a plan in place.”

Dawson said that is a “perfect storm” of conditions that has left Marion and other towns in this position.

“It’s a different era. You used to have nearly all of your emergency employees living in the town they served, on call at a moment’s notice and familiar with the terrain,” Dawson said. “Fast forward 35 years, and that’s not the case anymore. It’s not news to anyone, but it’s a national trend: These men and women are coming from greater distances when something happens. That has an impact. That’s certainly not the only factor in this, but it’s a big one.”

With concerns from some community leaders about the direction of Marion’s budget – from reimbursement policies to grandfathered benefits to the funding of a new position of Facilities Manager (itself approved at Town Meeting in May) – Dawson said he is aware that the EMS funding to strengthen ambulance service could be on shaky ground.

“I learned a long time ago to never try and influence or predict these things,” he said. “My job, along with the Board of Selectmen and others at the Town House, is to present all of the information I can. It’s the voters’ job to decide. And we’ll accept it. We’ll respect it either way. But good, bad, or indifferent, it’s a huge change in how we would operate.”

Marion Fall Town Meeting takes place on October 28 at Sippican School. To read the warrant, visit www.wanderer.com.

By Shawn Badgley

A strip of land adjacent to the recently approved 40B project along Route 105 in Marion was a major topic of discussion at the Marion Board of Selectmen meeting on Tuesday evening. Ken Steen, a representative for the Baywatch Realty Trust, came before the board and wanted a final vote on the proposed land swap for the bike path area.

It didn’t happen.

All three board members posed questions and wanted more time to discuss the issue, which included the options of: turning the proposed land over to the town of Marion or to the Sippican Lands Trust. Both options posed issues regarding long-term maintenance of the property. Eleven years ago, the bike path was one of the primary issues in discussions in allowing the project to happen. Selectman John Henry noted that during the meeting, saying “this is a major component of the greenway, bike path, linking our Southcoast, we need to secure this link.”

“This is a new issue and we need time to digest it,” Selectman Steven Cushing said.      “There are various fiscal and maintenance issues to explore,” Henry agreed.

Next up was a discussion with Pamela Marean, Development Specialist for the town of Marion, regarding a GIS (Geographical Informational System) grant that would improve land use abilities in any area of the Tri-Town. “This is a great opportunity,” Henry said. But, other questions, such as fees for those doing the legwork, emerged. The Selectmen held off on a vote until more questions could be answered.

Next up was a request from Nicholas Carnazza for approval for an aqua cultural application. The board asked the applicant for more specific information regarding the dimensions of the area.

Jennifer Francis, a member of the Marion Energy Management Committee, spoke and said that the Marion Planning Board and the Marion Energy Management Committee would go before Fall Town Meeting with the compromise that the two committees had agreed to. She said that she hoped the town would approve with the new Solar Bylaw.

The Selectmen agreed to approve the Halloween Parade, sponsored by the Marion Art Center, to be held at 4:00 pm. Also, a November 2 fundraiser for the Friends of the Marion VFW was approved.

Next up was a discussion of warrant items for the October 28 Fall Town Meeting. The members of the board split the agenda and will report back on the proposed issues prior to the Town Meeting.

Lastly, Henry noted the passing of Lucia Davis, wife of former Fire Chief Robert Davis.

By Joan Hartnett-Barry

The Rochester Conservation Commission is doing its part to make sure some of the town’s free space is easily accessible, with several projects either under way or scheduled in the near future.

At their meeting Tuesday evening, they discussed projects at Leonard’s Pond and Doggett Brook, with tree clearing already done at the former to the old parking lot area that had since grown over. At Doggett Brook, trail clearing has already taken place, and there are plans in the near future to construct a fence near an abutting neighbor’s property.

As for Leonard’s Pond, Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon said that Highway Surveyor Jeff Eldridge had cleared some small trees and put in reprocessed asphalt down on the lot. Farinon also said that since the work was done, she has seen cars parked in the lot, a sign that people are utilizing the land there.

“There are people out there every time that I’ve gone by,” she said.

The Commission also approved a filing from the Rochester Land Trust for their property at Leonard’s Pond, which will allow them to do preventative pruning along the trail there. They also hope to get a kiosk installed at the site in the near future.

At Doggett Brook, the Commission discussed a proposed 220-foot fence for the demarcation of the property line upon the abutter’s parcel.

“It’s not a barrier,” Chairperson Rosemary Smith said. “We’re not trying to keep people out with this. It’s not going to be blocking any existing trail.”

The Commission decided that two cables along five posts dug into the ground would be suitable, and will look into the optimal material for the cables as far as durability and price. They also thanked Eldridge for his work on the project.

“The Rochester Conservation Commission is very grateful work Jeff Eldridge did on the property,” Farinon said.

The Commission also announced an open forum for a potential Community Preservation Act on November 13 at the Rochester Council on Aging in the early evening.

By Nick Walecka