Signaling that it is one step closer to approval, the Rochester Planning Board closed the uneventful public hearing on Shawmut Associates LLC’s proposed expanded recycling facility at 50 Cranberry Highway, extending the vote date to June 28.

Planning Board members traded notes with Green Seal engineer Gary James on the project’s existing order of conditions, with storm water system specs and garage construction clarifications highlighting the proceedings.

Elsewhere on the agenda, officials questioned RGS Energy’s Jay Myrto and other principals on the progress of the Little Quittacas Solar Project at 33 North Avenue approved in January, namely the two-tier vegetative berm that will cradle new tree growth around the site to obscure abutter views of the photovoltaic arrays.

“That’s a relatively short statement for a tremendous amount of work,” said Myrto, referring to the town’s concise order – based on public input – to build a berm. “But I would have thought we’d be farther along. We’ve been slowed by the weather.”

Myrto added that crews will begin planting trees in early September, with a revised overall project completion target of late October.

Planning Board Vice Chairman Gary Florindo expressed concern about the materials workers would use for the berm.

“I’m doubtful that that’s going to stay wet enough to provide the tree growth we’re expecting,” Florindo said.

But project representatives assured the Planning Board that the 30-inch berm would utilize more subsoil than tailings, in as much as a 2-1 ratio. Florindo and other Planning Board members appeared placated by the response.

“You’re off your timetable a little bit, I gather,” Chairman Arnold Johnson said. “But everything seems to be going well out there.”

By Shawn Badgley

Mattapoisett’s Board of Selectmen met with two candidates who have come forward expressing their interest in serving as members of the Finance Committee. With two open slots and a third vacancy approaching when Judith Mooney ends her service to the town, longtime resident Paul Amoruso’s and new resident Kevin Geraghty’s interest in stepping forward to fill the positions was met with a hearty welcome.

Town Administrator Michael Gagne told the Board that appointments could not be made without first convening a meeting with the Town Moderator and the Chairman of the School Committee as required per town bylaws. He said that he would bring those decision makers together so that Amoruso and Geraghty could be considered. Then the candidates were asked to share some information on what inspired them to seek appointment to the Finance Committee.

Geraghty shared that he and his wife had recently moved to town from Sutton, where he had participated in town government for many years. In Sutton, he was on the Board of Selectmen and Housing Authority. His wife had been a School Committee member. He highlighted that Sutton has a $27 million annual budget and a population of 9,300. Geraghty said he had participated in Mattapoisett’s town meetings this year and felt the town was moving in the right direction in the way it managed its budget.

Amoruso declared that he had “no experience in town government, [but was a] businessman, lived in town 35 years, kids went through the school system,” and was interested in contributing to the town. He said he understood and had been responsible for handling very large budgets, noting that in his work experience he had aided four municipalities’ school systems in the wake of natural disaster.

“I think volunteering and contributing is what you should and must do,” he said.

The Selectmen thanked Amoruso and Geraghty, saying they would be hearing from them soon.

From Gagne’s report, the Board learned that “home rule” petition for the position

of harbormaster submitted for approval to the Governor back in November of 2012 had been received. Gagne applauded the diligence of Rep. William Strauss for keeping him informed on this and many other pieces of legislation pending in the House of Representatives.

Gagne was also very appreciative and wanted to make the Selectmen aware of the efforts of many trades in bringing the public restrooms up to handicap access with a special shout-out to Barry Denham and his crew, whose talents as craftsmen from carpentry to masonry has given the harbormaster’s building much needed repairs and face-lifting.

On the subject of the town’s solar project, which is slated for development at the Mattapoisett town landfill, Gagne told the Board that he had met with the four vendors competing for the work, saying the discussions had been very good. The next step is the development of terms and conditions that the vendors will need to review before closing the deal with one of the vendors.

Rounding out his report, Gagne read from a notice that is up on the town’s website and wanted to make sure that the TV audience and those in attendance were aware regarding an upcoming public meeting. The notice reads in part: “The Town of Mattapoisett is looking to seek funding from state and federal funding sources to address the condition of Main, Water and Beacon Streets. We also want to address Marion Road to the Route 6 intersection. The town has had preliminary discussions with State Highway and Planning Officials and we are advised to seek community input at the very preliminary stages of planning. Now is time to give us input which we can then use in coming up with design considerations.” The meeting is scheduled for June 20 at 6:30 pm in the Center School cafeteria. Gagne said the success of the project is dependent upon the communities’ participation and willingness to give input.

Earlier in the evening, the Board approved a request from Lee Healt for a one-day special liquor license for 45 Water Street, home of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Jolliff, who will be hosting a fundraiser for the New Bedford Art Museum on July 26 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.

In announcements, the Selectmen said that summer band concerts would begin July 10 and be held every Wednesday from 7:30 to 9:00 pm through August 28. The summer teen dances will begin every Thursday from June 27 through August 29 from 7:30 to 10:30 pm.

The next meeting of the Board of Selectmen is scheduled for Tuesday, July 9 at 7:00 pm.

By Marilou Newell

The Mattapoisett School Committee navigated its lengthy last agenda for the 2012-13 school year on Monday night, making near-term decisions and long-term plans.

The Committee gave the go-ahead to a limited school choice program, allowing three students to participate on the first-grade level. Superintendent Doug White noted that the district had already received two applications.

White also noted that the district had $178,000 to spare with just days remaining in the 2013 fiscal year. Any surplus will carry over to the subsequent fiscal year. White did announce that the district will undertake a search for a fourth sixth-grade teacher to start next school year.

Not as rosy a budget report was Food Services Director Caitlin Meagher, who told the Committee that the district stood to lose upward in $7,000 in revenue in FY 13 due to a decrease in participation, new Federal and state regulations, and uneven bill collection.

“We’re tightened up our purchases,” Meagher said. “Next year, we’ll be focusing on gaining that participation back.”

Center School Principal Rose Bowman announced the donation of books from Project Grow, which the Committee voted to accept. In addition, Bowman told the Committee what she’s telling students and parents as the end of classes approaches.

“It’s critically important for children to be reading throughout the summer,” she said. “I’m really appreciating the joint partnership between the public library and the school library, to the great benefit of the students.”

The Committee formally OK’d White as representative to the Regional Educational Assessment & Diagnostic Services Board of Directors, which will come in handy since he will serve as chair of that group.

White told the Committee that the district plans to move 2014 parent-teacher conferences from March 20 and 21 to April 2 and 3, they’re currently scheduled “right in the middle of MCAS.” The body also approved its Committee Meeting dates for the next school year, which putting into place protocols for summer warrants on payroll and accounts payable in the absence of July and August meetings.

During its reorganization, the Committee reinstalled Jim Higgins as chair, Grace Knox as vice chair, and Deborah Carlino as secretary, while filling various delegate and representative positions including new member Patrick Leclair on the ORR Superintendency Union No. 55.

By Shawn Badgley

Conservation Agent Elizabeth Leidhold reported to the board that the Open Space Survey is now available on the Mattapoisett website (www.mattapoisett.net). This important public comment survey will help the Open Space Committee, which Leidhold is part of, craft a comprehensive plan for the town addressing the needs for not only open space, but water resources, recreation areas, and public land resources. Chair Peter Newton said, “This is your town, people” to the TV camera, highlighting the importance of public input.

On another subject, Leidhold suggested to the Commission that they consider adding language to “order of conditions” that would somehow mandate petitioners’ reading and dissemination of the conditions to all contractors who might be required to work in concert with them. The Commission felt they could add some language, but wondered how they could enforce the “reading” of the conditions by the property owner. This came on the heels of issues that have arisen on Goodspeed Island, when Daniel DeRosa (May 29 Conservation Commission) claimed not to understand the scope of order of conditions that had been required for his permitted work. There remain several unresolved issues for DeRosa, including abutters’ concerns that he had allowed work to take place on property he does not own. Newton noted that the town may use their own surveyor to establish the amount of material that has been removed from the property and that the Commission is waiting to see the DEP report.

Another situation was brought to the Commission by the agent was a marina situated at the end of Dupont Drive on Brandt Island. She shared with the board that her office had received calls from concerned residents regarding the possible discharge of material into the marsh area, wetlands being filled in, pilings being placed and the possibility that form floats were being used instead of the required plastic floats. She told them that a letter had been sent to the owners of the marina and that they had acknowledged receipt of the letter. Further action is pending with Newton stating that there may be multiple jurisdictions involved with resolving the problem being raised including the DEP.

A certificate of compliance was granted for work completed by D&B Quality Construction, Dennis LaVoe, 15 Cedarcrest Ave., for deck work only. Other open issues at the property were not part of this request. The Commission moved to grant the certificate after confirming with Leidhold that the work met with order of conditions.

A public hearing for the notice of intent filed by Myron and Marilyn Mazur of 7 Holly Woods Road was also heard. It took some time for the Commission to hear from Field Engineering’s John Connell, Mazur’s representative. Connell’s presentation detailed that the Mazurs’ wish to replace a boardwalk and reset/replace timber pilings that had been destroyed and damaged during winter storms.

Because the area in question is in a protected wetlands area, Commission members probed Connell for information about the type of construction methods intended to be used, materials, and whether or not there was a need for tie down anchors.

“I’d be happy to let them put back what they had before, but not with the anchors,” Bob Rogers said. “More damage to the marsh if they pull out … not having them would also eliminate the extra permitting. [The anchors] will rip up the marsh.”

Newton suggested Connell confer with his clients to see if they would be willing to remove the anchors from their request. After a brief tabling of the hearing, Connell returned to report that the Mazurs would indeed be happy just to replace and repair what they previous had in place and may come before the Commission at a later date for anchors if they still wished to pursue the possibility of having them in place.

By Marilou Newell