The Rochester School Committee met for their first meeting of the 2012-2013 school year on the evening of Monday, September 10 at the Rochester Memorial School. Three weeks into the new school year, the Committee was eager to get back to work.

“It’s an exciting start to the new year,” said School Committee Chairperson Tina Rood. “It’s the third week and things are going very smoothly.”

Three new faces to the school district introduced themselves to the committee: Rochester Memorial School Principal Dr. Moira Rodgers, District Technology Director Ryan McGee and District Facilities Director Gene Jones.

Jones and McGee discussed the implementation of new computer software called “School Dude” that will help all the schools in the district keep track of repairs and inventory of equipment in the classrooms electronically. Instead of teachers and staff tracking down maintenance workers in the hallway, all requests for repairs will be submitted via email, that way the workers can respond in a timely manner in the order that the requests are received.

“It’s going to be a great system,” said Jones.

School Dude won’t be the only new electronic addition in the Rochester School System. Dr. Rodgers introduced the concept of the Backpack Express — an online notification system for parents to get important school notices electronically via email. The program will be optional and is still in development stages.

McGee also discussed the addition of a Technology Integration Specialist — a new position that was created to help teachers integrate technology into their classrooms. The district is currently interviewing candidates for the position.

“We’re going to come through as a team and offer an added layer of support,” said McGee.

Superintendent Doug White announced that the 2012 School Budget ended with a $2,072 surplus from a $5 million budget. The surplus is less than 0.5 percent of the total budget. The surplus, although small in terms of percent, marked a huge accomplishment for the town as it was certain they would end up in a deficit heading into the 2013 Fiscal Year.

“Kudos to everybody,” said White. “I’m very proud.”

The Rochester Memorial School’s Food Budget also saw a large decrease in its deficit thanks to an increase in lunch prices and reimbursement and a decrease in spending. According to District Food Manager Caitlin Meagher, the reimbursements came from an increased number of children enrolling in the reduced lunch program. The school is in a shortfall of $1,275 as compared to the near $14,000 it was facing last year.

“That was a lot of hard work,” said Rood. “You’ve given a great effort.”

The Rochester School Committee will meet again on Thursday, October 4 at 6:30 pm in Rochester Town Hall.

By Katy Fitzpatrick

On the morning of Tuesday, September 11, the Rochester Police Departments received two reports of a man walking down Hartley Road carrying a gun at approximately 10:39 am.

Rochester Memorial School was notified and put in lock down as a precaution.  Rochester, Marion and Mattapoisett Police all responded and conducted an area search and investigation.

Police found a Hartley Road resident had been walking from the Wildlife and Fisheries reserve on Hartley Road and was carrying a BB gun that he had been target shooting with.

After interviewing the suspect, police determined there was no safety threat to the school or residents.  The lock down at the school was lifted shortly after.

Starting October 1, students at Old Hammondtown School will have the opportunity to eat breakfast in the cafeteria prior to the school day.  The school serves grades four, five and six and has 212 students: 75 in grade four, 71 in grade five, and 66 in grade 6.   The idea is to prepare students nutritionally for the school day, including those qualifying for free or reduced meals.

The School Committee heard a presentation by Mattapoisett Recreation Director Jeremy Collier, who gave a one to five year plan, which included creating new tennis courts adjacent to Old Hammondtown School.

“Our plan is to have tennis courts at all three schools,” said Collier.

“Mattapoisett is underserved in tennis courts,” said board member Gerald Johnson. “In the summer you have to go to Tabor Academy or a public court in Marion.”

Collier came before the school committee because he plans to propose a renovation of the existing tennis courts adjacent to Center School to the town and wanted the approval of the committee.  The school uses the courts on a regular basis, but not for playing tennis.

“The courts also serve as a barrier to the street, providing a useful space for students to use during the school day,” said Collier.

In other business, the committee approved two fundraisers from OHS Band Director Paul Halpainy who told the board that the band needs new uniforms.

“Our current uniforms are over twenty years old and are stored in boxes which create musty smell each time we bring them out…it’s time for new uniforms and we will raise the money via a fundraiser, without asking for funds from the school budget,” said Halpainy.

Halpainy also requested approval for an annual fundraiser, similar to Sippican School’s Band Blast, held in June, close to the school year end.

“We are impressed with Sippican’s annual event and want to create something similar here, possibly at Center School, with an event that brings families together for a celebration,” said Halpainy.

The PTA also presented fundraising ideas for the 2012 – 2013 school year including an October family portrait to be taken on October 27.  Photographs will be taken of families in 15-minute intervals.  Ten photos will be taken and the cost is $150, with $50 of each session going to the PTA.  The proofs and final photos will be available for families to use as holiday cards or gifts.

Other PTA fundraisers included a Kids Night Out in December so that parents can do holiday shopping after dropping their children off at a local gymnastics business, with a reasonable fee and a Bingo for Books evening where prizes would include books for bingo winners.

In other business, Superintendent Doug White said that the fiscal year 2012 budget came in two percent under the approved budget.

Teresa Hamm, Director of Student Services said that the Tri-Town Pre-School program was under-enrolled and asked the committee and those in attendance to consider spreading the word about the program.

“Children three to four years old can attend the pre-school from nine to noon, five days a week at ORR High School…we also have an extended daycare program from noon to three,” said Hamm.  “We have volunteer students from ORR who are interested in a career in early childhood services who help with the program…any grandparents, parents, neighbors out there…tell parents of young children about this wonderful program.”

Center School Principal, Rose Bowman, told the committee that a local Mattapoisett company donated 70 soccer balls.  Half will go to OHS and the other half will go to Center School.  Bowman said that 23 new students registered for school between June and the beginning of the school year.  Open House for Center School will take place on Thursday, September 13 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm.

By Joan Hartnett-Barry

The Mattapoisett Conservation Commission held their first meeting of the month in front of a packed Town Hall conference room on Monday, September 10.

The first hearing of the evening was in regard to a Notice of Intent filed by Kenneth Pacheco, for property owned by Brandt Island Road Realty Trust. Pacheco is proposing the construction of a single-family home at Brandt Point Village.

Al Loomis of McKenzie Engineering Group represented Pacheco during the meeting.

“This project has been before Natural Heritage and a permit has been issued for it,” Loomis said. “It’s what you have seen in the development in the entire set of plans. We showed grading for the entire site so we could show how it would drain. It’s a single-family dwelling with a driveway off the main road.”

He said that the septic system is still under construction but is being installed in phases, with permission of the Department of Environmental Protection.

Chairman Peter Newton was concerned that if the location of the house changes, the grading would have to change. Loomis said they have no intention of changing the shape or location of the home and they would welcome that directive written into an order of conditions.

The Conservation Commission voted in favor of the project.

Next, the Commission heard from Dave Davignon of Schneider and Associates on behalf of William and Sophia Macropoulos of 12 Howard Beach. They filed a Notice of Intent in conjunction with a proposal to repair large sections of a concrete seawall by installing a one-foot-thick steel reinforced cap over the top and sides of the wall.

“We began the project back in the winter time. We came before the Commission and engaged a discussion about how we wanted to go about the repair,” Davignon said.  “We’re intending to pour a 12-inch concrete pad over top and extending the base deep enough that, should a storm take out the sand, they’ll be well-protected.”

Davignon added that the repairs could not begin until the existing structure is licensed by Chapter 91 Waterways. Macropoulos would also like to construct a small shed for utility storage.

The Commission felt that the extension of the base of the wall would constitute as a new project.

“Mr. Macropoulos wants to point out that the concrete did originally extend to where we’re going,” Davignon said.

“It would be appropriate to call this a reconstruction if it went out to the existing piling,” said Chairman Peter Newton, but was skeptical that they could prove that it originally extended further. The project did not have a DEP file number as of the time of the meeting, so the hearing was continued until the September 24 meeting.

“We have a couple weeks, so we can figure out exactly where this thing ended,” said Newton.

Then the Commission held a continued hearing for a Notice of Intent filed by Mattapoisett Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners. The Commissioners are proposing construction of a low-pressure sanitary sewer on Cove Street.

The project would serve 28 homes in the Point Connet area of town.

“The grinder pumps would be located in the homes and not in the ground,” said Patrick Sheridan of engineers Tighe & Bond, because the project is located near a barrier beach. The law does not allow for the building of solid structures at a barrier beach.

He noted a few minor corrections made to the plans since their last meeting, including property line adjustments.

Commission member Ken Dawicki said that he would prefer turning the decision over to the DEP because he felt that the plan was calling for the building for solid structures at a barrier beach.

“I don’t feel comfortable making that decision. I don’t feel that this Commission can make a determination on this project,” Dawicki said.

Commission member Mike King echoed Dawicki’s position of allowing the DEP to render a decision on the future of the project.

Sheridan said that the language in the regulations does not specify a definition of a “structure that would inhibit the movement of a barrier beach.” He argued that the construction of homes, utility poles, and roads could be seen as impediments to the movement of a barrier beach.

“I don’t think it’s fair for this commission to reject the project in order to pass it on to the DEP,” Sheridan said.

The Commission voted in favor of the project, with Dawicki as the lone dissenting voice.

Next, the Conservation Commission held a continued hearing regarding a Notice of Intent filed by Diane L. D’Orlando of 52 Pico Beach Road. Davignon represented D’Orlando, who would like to install two 100-gallon propane tanks for a single-family home, to be used for heating.

“We discussed at the last meeting two things. One was whether a concrete pad could be substituted with different materials, such as timbers. The other was regarding getting a permit for the tanks. [Permitting authority] Fire Chief said that the tanks absolutely have to be on concrete pads,” said Davignon.

He also said that an abutter had requested that the tanks be relocated to a different side of the property.

The Conservation Commission voted unanimously in favor of the plans as presented.

Davignon then represented Michael T. Huguenin and Sharon Chown regarding their Notice of Intent to construct a pier for access into Buzzards Bay for recreational boating, fishing and swimming. An existing stone jetty would be used for the landward side of the pier, while a pile-supported timber pier would make up the seaward end.

“I have submitted an outline of the changes that have occurred [since the last meeting],” said Davignon. “The jetty will be removed in its entirety and then rebuilt.”

“The Army Corps of Engineers signed off on the project,” he said.

“We mentioned it in the last meeting that pier will be threatened in a storm,” said Commission member Tom Copps.

Davignon said he sent the plans to the Harbormaster, who saw no conflicts.

The Commission voted in favor of the project.

Next, the Conservation Commission held a continued public hearing regarding a Notice of Intent filed by Dean Withrow, who would like to build a single-family house, with driveway and well, on Grand View Avenue.

Dave Davignon represented Withrow at the meeting.  The project was met with some contention from abutters regarding water views and drainage problems in the neighborhood.

He noted that they will install the drainage structures first before a building permit for the home is issued. He indicated a bold-faced note printed on the plans offering two different options for the drainage problems and allowing for the abutting family, the Hendersons, to decide which option was best.

One idea would use a larger drainage pipe that would cross over the Hendersons’ property line, while the other plan would use a smaller diameter pipe that would not encroach upon their property.

“This area is a mess. It’s a mess because nothing was complied with. Tonight you don’t have a good plan to act on,” said Robert Moore, attorney for the Henderson family. He cited the changes in the purpose of the land, from being solely for drainage to being the location of a home, as problematic.

“What we’ve done is take the original drainage basin that was proposed and we’ve elongated it. And we’ve made it 1.8 times larger than originally proposed,” said Davignon.

“What’s in front of us now is what we’re here to hear, strictly on conservation issues. We’re here to strictly speak about the Wetlands Protection Act.” He felt some of the discussion was more appropriate for the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Davignon said that after the first public hearing, they submitted a solution to the drainage issue, at which point the Hendersons hired legal counsel. He said they created another alternative to the drainage problem, but they were unable to come to an accord.

“We’re at a point where we can’t do anything else. Without their authority to go onto their property, we can’t proceed with what needs to be fixed,” Davignon said.

“This looks to me to be like a project that will never satisfy the people it really needs to satisfy,” said Newton.

“I have had a chance to walk the property, looked at the plans, and I watched the video from a couple weeks ago. I noticed the placement of the wells, which have to be at least 10 feet from a property line or five feet from a structure and neither well on this property complies,” said Al Ewing of Ewing Engineering, whom the Hendersons hired to consult on the project.

Newton said that the wells were a Board of Health issue.

“We have either an incomplete or invalid project without the consent of all the landowners,” said Commission member Bob Rogers.

Davignon requested a continuance so that he and the abutters can continue to work together to find an agreement. The Commission unanimously granted the continuance.

Next, the Commission heard from Tony Almeida, on behalf of many Grand View Avenue residents, who presented a letter signed by the abutters, requesting the construction of retention basins and installation of new fill around lots 77, 78 and 80 in order to rectify non-compliance issues.

Newton said that the Commission has a new conservation agent who would be able to work with Almeida to determine the best course of action.

Then, the Commission heard from Davignon on behalf of Daniel and Laurie DaRosa, continuing a hearing regarding a Notice of Intent to install coconut fiber envelopes of sand along a coastal bank near 1 Goodspeed Island. They would also be planting native grasses and shrubs in the area.

“Since our last meeting, I was requested by the Commission to come up with a maintenance plan of the proposed coastal bank project,” Davignon said after handing out a first-draft of the plan to the Commission.

His proposal included where staging equipment would be kept, the type of storm event that could require maintenance and suggestions for reconstruction materials.

While the project is overall well-intentioned, Peter Newton did not feel it was necessary, and as the applicant cannot demonstrate a need for the project, the Commission should not vote to approve it.

“We’ve had 100 years of beach there and it looks like we’ll have 100 more years of beach,” Newton said.

“The beach didn’t move much when [Hurricane] Bob came through,” said Ken Dawicki.

“The only real erosion problem comes along the pedestrian walkway, which can be alleviated by building a raised walking platform. But there’s very little evidence that erosion is a big problem in the area. What you’re suggesting is removing the material that’s there and fundamentally changing the landscape. I just don’t think it’s necessary,” he said.

“It’s not going to change the wave action near the house. It’s not going to change the flooding characteristics. What he wants to do is put into place measures to make sure the coastal bank doesn’t get closer to his house. And frankly, there’s no evidence to support that,” said Newton.

A few members of the Commission also took issue with the inclusion of PVC-coated wire mesh material as part of the plans.

“A lot of people don’t feel that it’s biodegradable. Many communities have outlawed it,” Newton said.

“In my opinion, he’s trying to enhance and beautify the bank under the regulations that he can only do it for prevention of erosion. He’s not doing it for protection of his dwelling,” said Bob Rogers.

“I really don’t know how I feel about it. I don’t think I can make a decision on this. I don’t feel comfortable with the benefits or the denial of it,” said Dawicki.

The Commission did not vote in favor of the plan. Two members voted in favor, two voted against, and Dawicki abstained.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission will be on Monday, September 24 at 6:30 pm at the Town Hall.

By Eric Tripoli

The Rochester Council on Aging added a new board member after the Board of Selectmen unanimously voted at their regular meeting on Monday, September 10 in Town Hall.  Beverly Brewer is the Council’s newest member.

In other news, Town Administrator Richard LaCamera commended the Rochester Country Fair Committee for holding a successful event this year at their new location on Pine Street.

“The Country Fair went extremely well,” said LaCamera. “There were no issues.”

LaCamera informed the Board that he met with the Capital Planning Committee to discuss potential improvements to Town Hall. He said a list of priorities will be presented at the Board’s next meeting.

LaCamera also met with the Park Commission to follow up on some previous discussions about budget issues and use of town facilities. The two parties discussed private companies’ use of town facilities and a universal decision as not reached.

“There seems to be mixed feelings about it,” said LaCamera.

However, an area where the two parties saw more clarity was the topic of budget. Previously, there was confusion as to how much the Park Commission had in their bank account, but LaCamera said $10,000 from the beach sticker account will be given to the Commission so the funds available to the commission is no longer a mystery.

“They need to understand this money is going to last them two to three years,” said LaCamera. “We seem to be on the right track again.”

The Council on Aging is seeking volunteers to be on their Accreditation Committee. An informational meeting will be held on Thursday, September 13 at 2:30 pm at the Senior Center on Dexter Lane.

The Rochester Board of Selectmen will meet again on Monday, September 17 at 7:00 pm in Rochester Town Hall.

By Katy Fitzpatrick

A ground spraying for the town of Mattapoisett will take place starting Friday, September 14 after several mosquito pools containing the EEE-virus were detected on Friday. Plymouth Country Mosquito Control will conduct the spraying.

EEE is a rare but serious illness spread by the bite of an infected mosquito.  EEE can effect people of all ages, but those under the age of 15 and above the age of 50 are at the greatest risk for serious illness.

There have been several reports of EEE infected individuals in Massachusetts so far this summer.  One of those cases claimed the life of a Worcester County resident.  Additionally, West Nile Virus continues to be a problem statewide.

The town of Mattapoisett is urging residents to curtail outdoor evening activities until the first frost of the season, which will kill off the majority of mosquitoes.  The first frost of the season usually comes in late October.

For more information about EEE, visit www.mass.gov/dph/wnv.