A low bid of $47,583 was approved by the Marion Board of Selectmen at their meeting on Tuesday evening for the renovation and repair of the Marion Natural History Museum.

On July 23, the ceiling of the museum, located above the town library, collapsed onto the library ceiling below, leaving the museum, built in the 1800s by Elizabeth Taber, closed until repairs could be made.

Loughton Construction of Raynham was awarded the contract unanimously. Town Administrator Paul Dawson said that there was one local bidder that was higher in price.

“The bidding process is daunting,” said Dawson, “and the bid documents are hundreds of pages.” Dawson suggested holding a workshop for local contractors on the bidding process to bring in more local bidding for town repairs out to bid.

Jim Quigley, Deputy District Director for Congressman William Keating, addressed the board and said that he was visiting all of the towns in the district and wanted residents to know that Rep. Keating and he were available to assist in any areas of concern. “If any school group or other groups want a tour of the capital or want assistance with Social Security, housing, or other issues, call us or e-mail us and we will get back to you,” Quigley said.

Selectman Jody Dickerson asked about Rep. Keating’s specialty in Homeland Security and in regard to the security of the wells that support drinking water in town. Quigley said he would look into the matter and report back.

Elsewhere on the agenda, discussion was held regarding land with a real estate delinquency of approximately $5584.11 on property owned at 929 Point Rd. The owner offered the land to the town at the cost of the delinquency.

“Let’s go slowly on this,” Selectman John Henry said. “Perhaps an abutter might want the land.” The Board agreed to have Dawson discuss the issue with the land owner and request that he contact all abutters to see if there would be an interest in purchasing the property for the cost of the delinquency.

The board approved the semi-annual water and sewer bill in the amount of $2.17 million for the term expiring on Nov. 13, 2012. A one-day alcohol license was approved for the Marion Social Club for a birthday party from 6pm to midnight on April 27.

The ongoing bid for the mold remediation at the Town House was resolved by a vote to award the contract to ServePro of Fall River & Taunton.

By Joan Hartnett-Barry

The one item on the Mattapoisett Planning Board’s April 1 agenda featured the return of applicants interested in garnering a permanent easement through 88 Aucoot Road, Lot 80. If granted, the easement would allow owners of Lots 152 and 153 access through Lot 80 water access into perpetuity.

During the March 18 hearing on this matter, the Board said they would need to confer with Town Counsel, as they were not sure what the consequences might be from a resulting non-conforming lot.

Town Counsel has subsequently assured the Board that the easement would not create a non-conforming buildable lot, but simply a non-buildable parcel.

Having received the necessary information to make an informed decision, the Board moved to approve the application for an easement at this location.

Other business: Minutes were read and approved from March 18.

The Board Members also discussed reviewing the zoning bylaws to ensure their conformity with zoning maps. It was decided that this was necessary and will be completed.

The Planning Board’s next meeting is April 15 at 7pm.

By Marilou Newell

During a charged two-hour discussion on Monday night, the Marion Planning Board challenged the Energy Management Committee on an amendment in the Town Meeting Warrant formalizing solar installation guidelines and standards.

Planning Chair Jay Ryder and member Ted North expressed their skepticism about how the controversial Solar Bylaw proposal made its way onto the warrant in the first place, saying that the Planning Board was not properly notified in advance of a public hearing scheduled for April 16.

“Did the Energy Management Committee follow the proper procedures in submitting the bylaws?” Ryder asked, scolding the EMC for its lack of transparency.

“Our duty as members of this board to follow the law,” North followed up. “We have still not received notice from the Board of Selectmen. I question whether we can even have a public hearing at this point.”

EMC member and scientist Jennifer Francis was skeptical in response.

“All along, we’ve been working very openly,” she said. “No one has ever said we needed to do anything differently. I really don’t know what to say. What has changed? I felt like we were very close. We wouldn’t have put this much effort into the Town Meeting if we didn’t think we could do it.”
Ryder at one point called the procedural conflict a “fatal flaw.” Signaling uncertainty for the bylaw’s fate, he used the same phrase in bemoaning the lack of a special permit process for ground-mounted solar installations on residential lots, citing aesthetics and potential land devaluation. Both of these concerns were dismissed as alarmist speculation by EMC members in attendance, who wondered whether solar panels would be more unsightly than junk cars, lobster traps, boats, and RVs.

“Delay is the deadliest form of denial, and that’s what I feel like I’m listening to here,” member Norman Hills said. “There are no surprises or secrets here. We’re not trying to ramrod anything. We’re not talking about paving the town in solar panels. I don’t think we’re ever going to agree on everything.”

“My response to that, Norm,” Ryder shot back, “is we had a deal, and you didn’t stand by the deal. It’s the 11^th hour , and you’re trying to put something forth for the Town Meeting that the Energy Management Committee and Planning Board don’t agree on. I am a proponent of solar energy, but I don’t think we should have a bylaw just because we don’t have a bylaw.”

While North was stringent in his opposition to the Solar Bylaw, arguing that it be thrown out and replaced with one authored by the Planning Board, Ryder would ultimately soften his stance.

“We have to let this play out one way or the other,” Ryder said. “Let’s have the public meeting and see where we stand. We might hear recommendations that your side hasn’t come up with and recommendations that our side hasn’t come up with.”

The first public hearing of what could potentially be several on the issue will take place on April 16 at 5pm in the Marion Town Hall Conference Room. Should the bylaw survive intact on the Town Meeting Warrant, it will need a two-thirds majority on May 13 to pass. If it falls short, it cannot be reconsidered for two years.

“Implementing a fast track and encouraging public input: I think that would be the best thing to do,” member Stephen Gonsalves said. “Both sides’ noses are a little out of joint. There might be a lot of agreeing to disagree, and that’s the beautiful thing about America. We’re here now, so let’s move forward.”

By Shawn Badgley

The final day for submitting nomination papers for the upcoming elections found Mattapoisett’s ballot featuring mostly incumbents running unopposed.

Only two races on the ballot have competition: Two contenders are vying for Water/Sewer Commissioner: Christopher Jaskolka and William F. Hubbard. On the Planning Board, Mary Crain, who was appointed by the board after a resignation left a vacancy, will be running against Paul Osenkowski.

Selectman and Board Chairman Jordan Collyer is seeking reelection unopposed, as are the following: Trustees for the Library James Dildine and Mary Magee; Moderator, John Eklund; Mattapoisett Housing Authority, Margaret DeMello; Constables Paul Magee and Kenneth Pacheco; Herring Inspector, Robert Martin; Tree Warden, Roland Cote; Community Preservation Committee’s William Hall and Michelle Hughes; and, finally, Board of Health member Daniel Lee.

No one has stepped forward to fill an empty seat at the Old Rochester Regional District School Committee table, leaving that slot vacant at this time.

Cary LeBlanc has submitted papers for an opening on the Board of Assessors, which is presently vacant.

And lastly, Charles Motta is an incumbent seeking re-lection on the Mattapoisett School Committee, while the other slot is being vied for by Patrick LeClair. Last day to register to vote is May 1, and Election Day is May 21.

By Marilou Newell