A complex landscape design plan proposed for 456 Point Rd. was discussed at a lengthy meeting on Wednesday by the Marion Conservation Commission. Applicants N. George Host and Laurie A. Host filed a Notice of Intent to landscape the property. Work includes trimming or removal of select trees, underbrush, and ground cover, and the replacement of vegetation as shown on their submitted landscape design plan. The parcel is six and one half acres.

The applicant was represented by David Davignon, N. Douglas Schneider & Associates; Chris Dindal, Morgan Wheelock, Inc.; and Jim Manganello of LEC Environmental. The parcel has a delineated wetland in the middle of the property and a second, fingerlike wetland on the property. Essentially, there are two isolated, vegetative wetland systems on both sides of the proposed driveway.

Davignon broke the discussion into nine sections, some with sub-sections and described the proposed activities in each section, which included removing a large number of trees, some located in the wetland areas. “This is a complex project,” said Davignon. According to Davignon, the property owners want to extend the water view from the property and beautify the driveway entrance. The property has a rolling lawn to a pier in Planting Island Cove.

The commission asked questions and discussed the project with the three representatives. The commission wanted more details on a proposed footpath, any grading to be done, a perennial stream on the property, and where the septic system would be located.

“Even fallen trees in a wetland provide habitat,” member Norm Hills said.

“There’s no grading shown on the plan,” member Joel Hartley said.

The commission closed the hearing and agreed to revisit the property and asked the applicant’s representatives to provide the missing information. The hearing was continued to July 24 at 7:20.

Next up was a Notice of Intent for Warren P. Williamson IV and Lee H. Williamson of 125 Converse Rd. to perform the following activities within the 100-foot buffer zone to a bordering vegetated wetland: construct a portion of a deck, install a portion of a drainage pipe, and perform land clearing and grading associated with the construction of a dwelling located outside the buffer zone.

Davignon represented the Williamsons.

The home would be constructed 100 feet away from a wetland, and some of the deck is within the buffer zone. The property is located in an AE 15 flood zone. The commission discussed a proposed path to a common path used by golf carts, which connects to the communal pier. The applicant proposes to put two-foot-wide planks on 2x4s sitting on concrete blocks over the wetland area.

The commission asked Davignon to re-set the flags outlining the wetlands for another visit to the site by the committee members. The public hearing then closed.

In other business, the board held a public hearing for Ann Iannuzzi of 9 Shellheap Road for a Notice of Intent to eradicate phragmites, Japanese knotweed, Asiatic bittersweet, and other invasive plant species. Susan Nilson of CLE Engineering represented the applicant. The area is adjacent to the retaining ponds at Silvershell Beach.

“My client plans to do the work in late summer or early fall, after the phragmites have bloomed,” Nilson said. No replacement plantings are planned for the area at this time.

The board announced that they are seeking to fill a vacancy for an Associate Member of the Conservation Commission. Interested applicants should contact the Town House at 508-748-3560.

By Joan Hartnett-Barry

A brief meeting was held by the Marion Board of Selectmen on Thursday to reappoint staff from various town departments.

Those whose contract was renewed for one year included the members of the Building Department: Scott Shippey, Building Commissioner/Inspector of Buildings/Zoning Enforcement Officer; Robert Francis, Alternate Building Inspector; Randy Caswell, Inspector of Wires; Mark Farrell, Alternate Inspector of Wires; Paul Maloney, Plumbing & Gas Inspector; and Steven Gibbs, Alternate Plumbing & Gas Inspector.

Police Chief Lincoln Miller was reappointed for a three-year period.

Others reappointed included Michael Cormier, Harbormaster; Isaac Perry, Deputy Harbormaster/Shellfish Officer; and ten assistants to the Harbormaster/Shellfish Officer, including Scott Cowell, Michael Paolella, John Potito, Christopher Washburn, Peter Borsari, Vincent Malkoski, Chester Smith, Carl Dias, Paul Hyde, and Adam Murphy.

William Titcomb, Veterans’ Agent/Grave Officer, was also reappointed.

By Joan Hartnett-Barry

The Wanderer is once again pleased to announce we are now soliciting nominations for our 20th annual “Wanderer Keel Awards.” The yearly community service honor – which is presented to one resident from each of the three central towns in our circulation area – will be announced in our July 25 issue, and each winner will be the subject of a short feature highlighting their contributions to the local community. But The Wanderer needs your help in selecting these “unsung heroes.”

The requirements are simple. Nominees must be legal residents, for at least five years, of Mattapoisett, Marion or Rochester and must have contributed in some way to the overall benefit of the community – either directly to town residents, or indirectly through efforts in promoting town activities, or working to keep the wheels of local government well oiled. The only restriction is that these persons cannot benefit from their efforts in any other way – either financially or politically (hence, sitting elected officials are not eligible).

In doing this, we hope to applaud those who are rarely recognized for their countless hours of service and focus on the many people “behind the scenes” who remain otherwise anonymous but provide crucial support to many town functions. Like the keel of a ship, which keeps the vessel from capsizing, the recipients of the Annual Wanderer Keel Award will be recognized for their stalwart efforts in keeping the community on an “even keel.”

Past recipients of this honor have included:

• MATTAPOISETT – Maurice “Mudgie” Tavares (1994); Priscilla Alden Hathaway (1995); Norma Holt (1996); Gale Hudson (1997); Kenneth Stickney (1998); Clara Morgan (1999); Betty and Bert Theriault (2000); John N. “Jack” DeCosta (2001); Jo Pannell (2002); Stan Ellis (2003); Evelyn Pursley (2004); Luice Moncevitch (2005); Seth Mendell (2006); Bradford A. Hathaway (2007); Kim Field (2008), David Spencer Jenny (2009), Stephen L. Kelleher (2010), Bento Martin (2011), Howard C. Tinkham (2012).

• MARION – Claire Russell (1994); Ralph and Phyllis Washburn (1995); Annie Giberti (1996); Jay Crowley (1997); Tyler Blethen (1998); Olive E. Harris (1999, posthumously); Kathleen P. “Kay” Reis (2000); Loretta B. “Lori” Schaefer (2001); Ann and Warren Washburn (2002); Andrew Santos Sr. (2003); Eunice Manduca (2004); Annie Giberti (2005); A. Lee Hayes (2006); Horace “Hod” Kenney (2007); Margie Baldwin (2008), Jack Beck (2009), Dr. John Russell (2010), Jane McCarthy (2011), Nancy Braitmeyer (2012).

• ROCHESTER – Joseph McCarthy (1994); Jean Fennell (1995); Katherine Hartley Church (1996); Chris Byron (1997); Albert Alderson (1998); Arthur and Aline Lionberger (1999); Kenneth E. Daggett (2000); Georgia D. Chamberlain (2001); Mary P. Wynne (2002); Evelyn F. Benner (2003); Mike Meunier Sr. (2004); Arthur F. Benner (2005); Pamela J. Robinson (2006); Anna E. White (2007); John E. Lafreniere (2008), Cathy Mendoza (2009), Kate Tarleton (2010), John Cobb (2011), Thomas Goyoski Jr. (2012).

Please send the name, address and telephone number of recommended nominees, along with a brief description of their key contributions to the community and why you feel they are deserving of this honor to: Keel Award, The Wanderer, P.O. Box 102, Mattapoisett, MA 02739, or e-mail your submissions to news@wanderer.com.

The deadline for nominations is Thursday, July 18 at 3:00 pm. Selected recipients will be announced in the July 25 edition.

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for our area extending through Friday. They are expecting a frontal boundary to bring heavy rainfall to the region and the system could stall over our area extending the rain over a period of several days. Flash flooding is possible with widespread moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms. There is also a small craft advisory in place for the waters south of Buzzards Bay as they are expecting higher than usual waves and patch fog along with heavy rain.