Officials Say No to Solar Bylaw

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Although it seemed during the past month of Planning Board meetings that most members’ shifting positions on the Solar Bylaw might be decided only when the music stopped, one of them was consistent in his opposition to the policy from the beginning of the process through the end: Ted North.

On Thursday, April 25, North giddily motioned for adjournment of the Marion Planning Board’s specially called meeting, minutes after the body decided it would not support the Solar Bylaw “as written.” The Planning Board is legally required to prepare a report in advance of the Annual Town Meeting beginning May 13.

“The Planning Board will draft our own bylaws for fall Town Meeting,” Chair Jay Ryder said. “As far as I’m concerned, that’s the number one priority.”

Members of the Energy Management Committee – Chair Bill Saltonstall and Clerk Norm Hills were present; member Jennifer Francis, the bylaw’s most vocal advocate, was not – were unsurprised by the decision that was handed down.

“They’ve never given us reason to be optimistic,” Saltonstall said. “Their rationale is so full of inconsistencies. We’ll continue to defend the Solar Bylaw, and we’re confident that voters will see how much it could mean for Marion.”

The Solar Bylaw, which would formalize the process for residential solar installations and allow for a Municipal Solar Overlay District on the town’s capped landfill, is included in the Town Meeting warrant signed off on by the Board of Selectmen. But the Planning Board has expressed concerns ranging from cosmetic to deal-breaking during the subsequent month of deliberations, public hearings, and work sessions. The majority of members would not bend on a desire for a special permit inclusion, for instance, while the EMC has fought it tooth and nail.

Early on during Thursday’s meeting, it appeared as if the spirit of compromise engendered during the public hearings had carried over, or even that the Planning Board had changed course. Ryder opened the proceedings by saying that he had been “second-guessing some of the thoughts I had previous to the public hearings,” adding that an opinion from Town Counsel Jon Witten on the bylaw “satisfies a number of concerns that I had … I feel, at least personally, that the Planning Board can have the control it needs without having a special permit.”

Vice-Chair Pat McArdle disagreed. “We can do that,” she said, “but we’re doing it with no teeth.”

Ryder also said that after a tour of the Fairhaven solar installation on a landfill, he was “amazed at how benign that installation was in regard to environment issues, technological issues, and operational issues. There is very little environmental concern with regard to piercing the cap, and the developer there was able to secure liability insurance. The DEP is 10 times more stringent than our special permit. I’m questioning the need for a special permit at this point.”

Ryder continued.

“It makes a lot of sense. But I’ll temper that comment by saying that I’m still not sold on the idea that of that installation being a quote-unquote garden.”

Ryder was referring to the fact that the solar district’s supply would be limited, expensive, and for private as opposed to municipal use.

“I’m not sure,” he said, “that the solar garden approach is equitable.”

Members Steve Gonsalves and Sherman Briggs agreed, saying that they supported certain aspects of the Solar Bylaw but not others.

There was no such nuance with North.

Citing his “extensive career in law, finance, and tax,” North blasted the bylaw as “bad public policy with substantive drafting issues.” He focused his initial critique on ground-mounted residential installations’ aesthetics.

“Do you want to look at this in your neighbor’s yard? For me, the answer is absolutely not,” he said. “Marion is very much dependent on a high property tax rate base. This should not be jeopardized.”

North also called the Municipal Solar Overlay District an “unacceptable risk” and nothing more than a “harvest for lucrative incentives.”

When Saltonstall offered a rebuttal, North pounced.

“The public hearings have been closed,” he said. “I really don’t see a need for any more public input on the issue. We can’t have continuing dialogue on this; that’s not what this meeting is about.”

Saltonstall pointed out that Ryder had suggested another work session with the Energy Management Committee before the Planning Board was to prepare its report, and that the session never happened. Ryder made this suggestion at the last public hearing, which North did not attend.

The next Planning Board meeting – where officials will finalize report language for the Town Meeting – is scheduled for May 6.

By Shawn Badgley

Reappointments, Special Permits, and Variances

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The Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals met Thursday evening, and several issues were discussed, including a reappointment of Chairman Richard Cutler for another year.

Each regular term for the ZBA lasts five years, and next week is when Cutler’s is due to expire, but he has decided to return in the associate position, which is year-to-year.

“I’ll take that one spot and I’ll stay for another year,” Cutler said. “I did this for 13 years before [this term].“

Other members of the Board urged Cutler to sign on for more than the one year, but he declined, stating that he’d like to serve this year and see what the future holds.

In other news, the town approved a special permit for the construction of a structure for Scott Ashworth of 737 Snipatuit Rd. Currently, there are three existing structures on the property, but Ashworth, who was formerly a Fire Chief in Rochester, wants to add one to house his collection of antique fire trucks.

The proposed structure is 15 by 60 feet, putting it over the 1,000-square-foot limit set forth in the bylaws, therefore requiring Ashworth to apply for the special permit. He said that he currently has no plan to make it a museum, though he often takes one of his multiple trucks out from time to time and encourages people to get in touch with him to see them, especially retired firefighters.

“I acquired another ladder truck and I’m trying to get it inside,” said Ashworth, who purchased the 1989 54-foot Maxim ladder truck in New Bedford. “It’s got a history, too, and I’m just trying to get it inside.”

“I think this is fantastic,” Cutler said, adding that the only conditions for the construction of the structure were that any future changes to the facility be proposed to the ZBA.

“I think that the building that is on that property is compatible with the buildings in the neighborhood,” member Kirby Gilmore said. “I don’t see any issues.“

Elsewhere on the agenda, the board granted two variances and a special permit to Shawmut Associates for the construction of a driveway leading to their new facility at 50 Cranberry Hwy in Rochester.

Greg Wirsen, an engineer for Green Seal Environmental, which represents Shawmut Associates, said that the driveway “is integral to facility operations.” He presented an extensive plan to the Board, which showed numerous aspects of the plans for the construction of the 90,000-square-foot solid waste facility.

“We have many moving parts to get this shovel ready,” said Wirsen.

He added that they currently have at least four different sets of plans regarding the facility which are still “up in the air.”

“It appears to me that the applicant has done extensive homework,” Gilmore said. “I think that the use is compatible. I’m in favor of this project as it’s been presented. The town needs to have this sort of project going on in this part of town. I think it’s a win for us.”

Wirner added that part of the plan includes the planting of 12-foot arborvitaes, as well as a fence around the property to keep it aesthetically pleasing and to keep litter from blowing around.

The two variances and the special permit essentially allow Shawmut to construct the driveway, and approve it for industrial use in a commercial zone.

By Nick Walecka

Marion Candidates’ Night

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With a controversial item on tap for the May 13 Town Meeting and a crowded ballot in the May 17 election, Marion continues to be the hottest political ticket in the Tri-Town.

In turn, the League of Women Voters’ Marion Candidates’ Night is the place to be on Wednesday, May 1, 7:00 pm. I’ll be at the Music Hall to hear from upward of 16 hopefuls – incumbents and challengers – as they vie for contested seats up and down the ballot.

“It’s as significant an event as ever this year because of the big number of candidates on the ballot,” said LWV organizer Tinker Saltonstall. “The majority of them are running in contested races.”

Incumbent Selectman John Henry will have to fend off two challengers to hold on to his seat, as both William Dale Jones and Edwin North have filed papers for the three-year term. Each candidate will have three minutes to make an opening presentation before fielding questions from the crowd. If they are still standing after what could be a tough Q&A session, the candidates get an opportunity to make a final one-minute appeal for Marion residents’ votes.

“The format has always been fair and nonpartisan, and we’re on target to adhere to that,” Saltonstall said. “The aim is for the candidates to hopefully inform all of the citizens who attend about their opinions on the issues.”

The program demands an equitable, alert and level-headed moderator. Luckily, Susan Grosart – longtime LWV member, former School Committee Chairman, and Marion activist – is just that. And she will be busy.

Two candidates are running for one Board of Health seat: Albin R. Johnson III and Kerry A. Reynolds.

The Planning Board has two spots available for three contenders: incumbent Sherman Briggs and challengers Jerry “Rico” Ferrari and Norman Hills. Interestingly, Hills has served on the Energy Management Committee, a body that has butted heads with Briggs’ Planning Board over the solar bylaw in recent months.

Michelle Ouellette and Linda A. Harju are running to replace Tom Shire on the Old Rochester Regional School Committee.

Finally, three candidates are seeking two seats on the Open Space Acquisition Commission: Geoffrey Paul Moran, John Rockwell and Randy Parker.

That’s quite a popular dance card. So popular, in fact, that Saltonstall said one feature of the long-running event had to be dropped to make room for all of the candidates. Discussion of the key articles on the Town Meeting warrant will not take place on May 1. Instead, ORCTV Executive Director Don Cuddy will air a taped special with Marion officials examining those items bearing the biggest potential financial impact.

In the meantime, the people responsible for implementing those policies will tell you what they think and give you something to think about before casting your ballot on May 17. What better way to spend a Wednesday night? The Wanderer will see you there.

By Shawn Badgley

Ladies Spring Luncheon

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The ladies at the First Congregational Church of Rochester, Constitution Way would like to invite you to our Spring Luncheon on May 18 at 12:00 pm. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by calling Ann at the Church office, 508-763-4314. Come join us for lunch, music, fellowship and a guest speaker.

Grassi Bog Going ‘Natural’

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The natural “letting go” of an old cranberry bog area known as the Grassi Bog drew heavy attendance and much discussion at the Marion Conservation Commission’s meeting last Wednesday evening.

The bog and land surrounding it lays parallel to Route 6, near the Rocky Neck subdivision and all along the area beyond. The applicant, Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission, filed a Notice of Intent to replace existing water control structures in order to maintain the pond and emergent marsh.

The plan is to do away with the eight man-made sluiceways, dikes, and water containment structures and other obstructions and let nature have its way. Several abutters attended and asked about the water levels resulting from the removal of the man-made containment areas, which are in disrepair and not monitored on a regular basis.

Robert Grey, of Sanatia, Inc., spoke on behalf of the Marion Open Space Commission and showed photos and drawings of the plat and the changes that would take place over time, as nature would take over human control of the bog area. “The plan is to re-establish the natural water system that was here prior to the bog,” Grey said.

In essence, the plan showed three manmade dikes or waterways that will be removed, thus returning the area to its natural flow and state. “Structures will be removed and our intent is to restore the passage of fish that should flow through the area,” Grey said. The area is also considered a habitat for the endangered species of the Eastern box turtle.

Various abutters, including Joe and Bonnie Pavia spoke and said that they mowed the pathway around the area. “We’ve been mowing the area for years, and want to know what will happen to the current maintenance of the property,” Joe Pavia said.

The board told the abutters that there were requirements, out of their control, that governed what and how mowing and other maintenance of the property could happen.

Chris Bryant, representing the Sippican Lands Trust, voiced approval of the project saying that the group is “very much behind the project.”

In other business, the board discussed a Request for Determination of Applicability to construct a dwelling, a driveway, and a sewage disposal system with associated grading at 50 Holly Pond Road by Amy Moor. Steve Carvalho of Thompson Farland represented the applicant.

“We explored the area for ledge … did not find it, so we are proposing a foundation as is,” Carvalho. Two retaining walls consisting of large boulders will be built.

Tabor Academy was next up, with a Request for Determination of Applicability to construct a 35-by-78-foot indoor rowing tank building addition and a 25-by-35-foot outdoor workout area on the northeast side of the gymnasium building. At issue was roof run-off, which would be diverted to a catch basin. The board agreed to take the request under consideration.

The last item on the agenda was a request for a Notice on Intent for Kathleen Mahoney of 40 Dexter Rd. to construct a 4-by-133-foot timber boardwalk and pier, a 3-by-20-foot gangway, and a 10-by-20-foot float supported by four pilings. The board debated the request and wanted to have a report from the shellfish warden regarding the impact on shellfish in the area of construction.

By Joan Hartnett-Barry

Officials Cancel Mr. ORR Fundraiser

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One of Old Rochester Regional High School’s biggest fundraisers, Mr. ORR, has been cancelled for this school year. In the past, the fundraiser has gone toward the Senior Class’s bank account. This year, the juniors obtained the fundraiser due to a new distribution of fundraisers.

When there weren’t enough junior boys who signed up for the show, the juniors offered the seniors a split of the fundraiser profits in the hope that there would be more interest with both the junior and senior boys campaigning for the title.

“It was cancelled due to lack of general interest and confusion in the planning,” said Senior Class President Abby Hiller. The advisors as well as the class officers agreed that they could not run the fundraiser successfully.

While Mr. ORR has been cancelled, there is a new fundraiser on the block: a Date Auction that will benefit the senior class. More information will be coming out in the next couple weeks concerning the event.

By Jessica Correia

Souvenir China Donation in Marion

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There’s something new at the Sippican Historical Society’s museum on Front Street. Thirty-six pieces of souvenir china that depict various scenes in Marion were recently donated by Pete Smith, Museum Curator.

“The first piece I purchased when I was young, and the second piece was given to me by my mother,” Smith said. “I would pick up an odd piece here and there, but later really got into it and started going to shows and dealers.”

An anonymous donor gave a lighted china cabinet to house the collection, which includes creamers, plates, ashtrays, cups with saucers, matchbook holders, porcelain shoes, pin dishes, toothpick holders and candy dishes.

All have scenes of Marion, including Bird Island, Tabor Academy, Town Hall, Gilder Hall, Stone Studio, Sippican Casino and Bathing House, and the Universalist Church and parsonage, which is now the Marion Art Center. Various houses and harbor scenes also appear on the pieces.

On the underside of each piece is the maker’s mark. Most were made in Germany, Austria, England and Japan. A circle or square mark states “Made in Germany for William R. Luce, Marion, MA” and “Made in Austria for Steven D. Hadley, Marion, MA.” Hadley was the owner of what is now the Marion General Store. Luce owned a store on upper Main Street.

Originally, the pieces came from Germany and Austria starting in the 1890s, but World War I cut off the sources and production shifted to England.

“The English pieces are of a much higher-quality porcelain,” Smith said. Many of those pieces have intricate gold leaf motifs of diamonds, flowers, and other designs, which are missing from the earlier pieces.

Smith says the pieces range from cheaply made to premium quality. A sketch would be drawn, transferred, layered and colored on the piece. The original cost of the pieces is unknown. The collection is valued at more than $2,500.

“I’ve been collecting for over 50 years, and some cost around $25 and some much more,” Smith explained. “I passed up on some great pieces, because I’d go to the show with a certain amount of money and maybe there’d be something great, but I didn’t plan on spending that much … or I’d go and there’d be nothing of interest at all.”

When asked about how the tradition of purchasing souvenir china by a visitor went out of favor, Smith offered a theory.

“I think it all ended when the camera came on the scene,” he said. “People would rather take home a photo than a piece of china.”

Smith said he is happy to make the donation.

“I was born and raised in Marion and have always had an interest in local history, and I wanted the collection to stay in Marion. It’s all Marion, from Marion and for Marion.”

The Sippican Historical Society’s museum is located at 139 Front Street and is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, and Saturdays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

By Joan Hartnett-Barry

Solar Bylaw Boosters Regroup

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Fairhaven, Carver and Dartmouth have one, and the Energy Management Committee wants Marion to have one, as well: a solar bylaw that would allow for a community solar garden on the town’s capped landfill via a Municipal Solar Overlay District.

The proposal would also formalize the process for installing residential solar arrays on parcels of one or more acres in town. Just last week, Mattapoisett agreed to propose a solar bylaw for their town.

The Marion EMC met on Monday evening at the Marion Music Hall to discuss their presentations for the Annual Town Meeting that starts on May 13.

“We don’t want to be left behind,” member Jennifer Francis said. “Our job is to explain to town residents the levels of oversight and the importance of our town accomplishing this important energy-saving initiative.”

The Committee agreed that the complex subject required public education on the technology and permitting process involved.

“We will bring it to the public at town meeting and let them decide,” member David Pierce said.

At issue is the Marion Planning Board, which has objected to many aspects of the policy.

Because the warrant issue of a solar bylaw doesn’t involve a fiscal issue at this time, the Committee wondered if its placement on the warrant would be later in the evening when the ranks thin out as people depart the town meeting.

“We need a quorum to understand and vote on this issue, which is vital to Marion’s future,” Pierce said.

“We support our proposed solar bylaw as it stands,” Chairman Bill Saltonstall said. Both Saltonstall and Francis spent a part of the day in Fairhaven with town officials discussing the success of their solar installation, to be built within the next three to six months.

The EMC has been working to get facts and figures of how much energy the town uses and how to make it more efficient with technology. Committee member Norman Hills noted that the town spent approximately $125,000 in gasoline costs, excluding diesel fuel, last year. Hills noted that the Committee’s purpose is to examine energy use by the town and find ways to reduce energy costs.

The Committee discussed Fairhaven’s initiative to go street by street and replace town lighting with LED lighting, whose life span is 10 years longer than traditional lighting. Hills noted that there is a national lighting program which monitors town lighting needs and dims according to lighting needs by weather monitoring.

“The technology out there is amazing,” Hills said. “We need to educate citizens to see the savings to the town that comes with this technology.”

The Committee is looking for additional members to help find additional ways to make Marion more energy efficient. To join, call David Pierce at 508-748-2372.

The next EMC meeting will take place at the Marion Music Hall on June 4 at 7:00 pm.

By Joan Hartnett-Barry

Solar in a Proper Context

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To the Editor:

The media reports extolling the virtues of a proposed solar garden by Marion’s Energy Management Committee sited on the Marion landfill needs to be placed in a proper context.

An EMC objective is to change Marion’s zoning bylaws to allow “as a matter of right” zoning for the purpose of siting its’ private commercial solar garden on the Town’s landfill. Effectively, such zoning would allow the EMC to bypass traditional zoning protections. All commercial industrial projects designated as a permitted use by Marion’s zoning bylaws require a special permit and site plan review before they can be built. At this time, a commercial solar farm is not a zoning permitted use and therefore is not allowed in Marion without first changing the zoning bylaws by a two-thirds Town Meeting vote.

Any zoning change regarding commercial solar development in Marion should limit project siting to commercial and industrially zoned districts and require a special permit and site plan review to insure that our neighborhoods and open spaces are adequately protected. This is just good zoning public policy. Effectively, the EMC is looking to receive “favored nations” zoning privileges for its proposed solar garden not available to other commercial projects.

The EMC claims a commercial solar garden like the community vegetable garden would allow Marion resident access to solar energy not otherwise available to them as the result of geographical constants precluding roof top solar installations. How wonderful it would be to provide Marion residents access to solar power like the benefits of a community vegetable garden. A community solar garden has absolutely no corollary to a community garden.

Solar projects are incentive and tax-sheltered investments. Without state-mandated premium net metering power rates, alternative energy credits, state and federal tax incentives such as the 30 percent federal investment tax credit and accelerated deprecation, there would be no solar.

Solar garden participation would be limited to a small select group of well-heeled citizens. Most Marion residents will have no access to a solar garden. There are several reasons for this exclusion. First, it’s necessary to have a large taxable income appetite to be able to take advantage of the tax incentives. Most Marion residents will neither have the level nor the type of income that can effectively utilize the tax incentives, such as the federal 30 percent investment tax credit. Only professionally well-financed investors with access to the type of income that can utilize the tax benefits known as tax assets can effectively invest in solar projects.

Secondly, a solar garden structured to provide the maximum incentive and tax benefit returns sold as an investment interest is considered a security. The securities law regulatory environment is complex and can be very expensive. Effectively, only a limited group of Marion residence who qualify as “accredited investors” will be able to qualify to purchases shares or interests in the solar garden.

An accredited investor has to be sophisticated as to investment background and knowledge to assume and assess investment risk. Also, the accredited investor has to have a minimum net worth of $1 million or more, excluding their house, and or an annual income of $200,000. The average annual Marion household income is about $80,000.

At this point, it’s fair to ask the question of the EMC how can board-based community participation by all income levels be achieved with its proposed solar garden? Also, how can the EMC justify using the Town as a springboard, either directly or indirectly, to promote and to participate in the sale of private solar investment interests to a few well-heeled Town residents?

The commercial solar farm would be located on the environmentally sensitive landfill. Environmental incidents that may result from such an installation are extremely expensive to remediate and, generally, environmental liability insurance coverage is not available. The Town will have the liability and risk for any activity by a private developer using the site. This project is not such a good idea for our Town.

More detailed information is available in the U.S. Department of Energy’s “A Guide to Community Share Power,” www.doe.gov, and taxation of solar energy credits as income is available at www.irs.gov.

Ted North

Marion

 

The views expressed in the “Letters to the Editor” column are not necessarily those of The Wanderer, its staff or advertisers. The Wanderer will gladly accept any and all correspondence relating to timely and pertinent issues in the great Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester area, provided they include the author’s name, address and phone number for verification. We cannot publish anonymous, unsigned or unconfirmed submissions. The Wanderer reserves the right to edit, condense and otherwise alter submissions for purposes of clarity and/or spacing considerations. The Wanderer may choose to not run letters that thank businesses, and The Wanderer has the right to edit letters to omit business names. The Wanderer also reserves the right to deny publication of any submitted correspondence.

Municipal Solar Overlay District

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To the Editor:

We’d all like to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and save money, right? Solar photovoltaic panels are a great way to achieve this, but not all of us are fortunate to have a roof that isn’t shaded and that faces the right direction, a suitable yard for ground-mounted panels or the financial resources to pay the up-front costs for our own solar system. The concept of a community solar garden is to provide “virtual” solar power for people in this situation. The area around Marion’s dump – the top of the capped landfill in particular – is the ideal location for a solar garden: it’s out of sight, sunlight is unobstructed, access to the power grid is nearby, it’s nearly level and already fenced-in, the land is town-owned and otherwise useless, and you already voted last year to allow the landfill to be leased for a solar project.

The approval of Article #31 would create a Municipal Solar Overlay District that includes about 50 acres around the capped landfill, in which the construction of solar arrays is allowed without the requirement of a special permit from the Planning Board. This does not mean, however, that any proposed projects would circumvent substantial oversight. On the contrary: not only would an applicant have to satisfy a site plan review and obtain a building permit, but the state’s Department of Environmental Protection requires a Post-Closure Permit for any project on a capped landfill. This MassDEP permit is substantially more rigorous and technical than a town-issued special permit, and even better, the engineering costs are born by the state, not the town! Adding the requirement of a special permit (in addition to a building permit, a site-plan review, and the DEP permit) is not only unnecessary, but this extra burden may deter solar companies from bidding on the construction of a community solar garden on Marion’s landfill. MassDEP has already permitted solar arrays on 40 capped landfills. The technology is mature, the risks are minimal and the benefits are substantial.

So why is the Planning Board refusing to support this Overlay bylaw unless it requires a special permit? It’s simple. They would lose the power to say “no” to a community solar garden on the landfill.

Let’s look at the benefits of a community solar garden to Marion residents. First, the town would receive a lease payment for use of the landfill; remember, right now it earns the town nothing. The solar developer would be responsible for the financing and insurance. There would be no cost to the town to construct the solar system. Any Marion resident may buy a subscription for which he/she receives solar-generated electricity over some time period. The solar garden in Brewster is a good example: subscribers pay $5,000 for five years of power from 28 solar panels, and they are guaranteed $6,400 worth of electricity – a 22 percent savings. The discount is applied directly to their NSTAR electric bill. Everyone qualifies, no taxes. The Brewster garden has been so successful that they’re already working on another. Read about it in an article at www.cape odtoday.com on October 14, 2012.

And last but not least, the Overlay with no special permit would satisfy the first criterion for Marion to become a Green Community, perhaps someday joining the now 114 towns in Massachusetts (30 percent) that have already achieved this status. Recent letters and rumors have made this program sound pretty scary, but the truth is that it’s simply a set of five common-sense actions that reduce energy use and save money in the long run. One is for towns to develop a plan – just a plan, mind you – to reduce municipal energy use by 20 percent over five years. Good idea, right? Another is for towns to buy more energy-efficient vehicles when it’s time to replace the ones they already have (excluding trucks and police cruisers). What’s wrong with that? And one includes guidelines for building new homes that are more energy efficient – using things like good insulation, efficient water heaters and furnaces, and windows that don’t leak energy. Sure, these choices add a few percent to the cost of a house up-front, but after a few years, they save the owner money for the life of the house. Ask any realtor: an energy-efficient home is worth more than an energy-wasteful one.

We on the EMC plan to research each of these criteria one by one, decide if they make sense for Marion, and if they do, bring them to you at Town Meeting for you to decide.

The Municipal Solar Overlay District is a win-win situation for Marion and its residents. A once-useless dump would provide income to the town and solar power to residents and businesses, and we as a community could take one small step toward being just a little greener. Please attend Town Meeting on May 13 and 14, and support a new sun zone in Marion.

Jennifer Francis

Marion Energy Management Committee

 

The views expressed in the “Letters to the Editor” column are not necessarily those of The Wanderer, its staff or advertisers. The Wanderer will gladly accept any and all correspondence relating to timely and pertinent issues in the great Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester area, provided they include the author’s name, address and phone number for verification. We cannot publish anonymous, unsigned or unconfirmed submissions. The Wanderer reserves the right to edit, condense and otherwise alter submissions for purposes of clarity and/or spacing considerations. The Wanderer may choose to not run letters that thank businesses, and The Wanderer has the right to edit letters to omit business names. The Wanderer also reserves the right to deny publication of any submitted correspondence.