Important structural roof tiles are missing from the Dexter Lane ball field dugout shelter after the brief but destructive thunderstorm that hit Rochester on July 3. But the town might find it unusually expensive to repair and replace the tiles, according to Facilities Manager Andrew Daniel, who indicated they are less available than usual for these types of projects.

            The Rochester Park Commission met briefly on July 24 to discuss progress on its list of maintenance items, and this became the main topic of concern. Commission Chair David Sylvia said Daniel is becoming too busy to assist the Park Department with this type of maintenance because of his other work for the town.

            Sylvia said he will now have to find an outside contractor for this work and will have to pay that person’s prevailing wage. It was said this will be more expensive than if Daniel had handled this work. Prevailing wage varies by the type of work required, but Sylvia said he will research those costs right away.

            Over the course of approximately 73 hours from July 3 at approximately 4:00 pm through July 6 at 5:00 pm, the Rochester Fire Department responded to nearly 60 calls for service as a result of the storm. At one point, the town had every major road blocked, and nearly two-thirds of the town was without power.

            The commission Thursday also revealed that its other big projects will include replacing the Raynor Gifford Park memorial sign that fronts the property. The brick face is falling apart and needs to be totally replaced, Sylvia said. But this project, he assured fellow commission member Kenneth Ross, will likely be handled by the Highway Department.

            The commission then adjourned without scheduling its next meeting.

Rochester Park Commission

By Michael J. DeCicco

The morning of Sunday, July 27 was the return of this year’s Mattapoisett Triathlon, hosted by the Mattapoisett Lions Club. There were over 100 different participants, with some competing in just one leg of the event and many in all three.

            Athletes began arriving just after sunrise, with the race beginning at 8:00 am and the 0.25-mile swim from Town Beach. Next was the 10-mile bike ride through town and way north up to the turnaround on Long Plain Road. Finally, the 5K run took competitors to Ned’s Point and back down Water Street to the finish line.

            For final placement, Tyler Wright (Bib #208; Male age 20-24 division) was first across the line and won for men in the end with a total time of 52:26. Emily Cluck (Bib #224; Division: F25-29) won for women with a time of 1:00:04.

            In individual segments, for swimming, Tyler Rocca (Bib #272; Division: M30-34) led for men with a time of 4:30. Emily Cluck led for women with at time of 5:14.

            For biking, Marvin Wang (Bib #228; Division: M55-59) led for men with a time of 26:08. Christine Monaghan (Bib #188; Division: F45-49) led for women with a time of 28:49.

            Finally, for the run, Tyler Wright led with a time of 17:45 for men. Olivia Siegal (Bib #266; Division: M25-29) led for women with a time of 20:09.

Mattapoisett Lions Club Triathlon

By Sam Bishop

Boaters and residents along Rochester’s Snipatuit Pond are on notice to not take seriously posted warnings of fines for revving powerboat motors on the town’s recreational waterway.

            The Rochester Police Department recently posted on its Facebook page a disclaimer to the signs that state there is a new Massachusetts law in effect as of July 7 at Snipatuit Pond, imposing a 25-horsepower limit for boats on the pond and “no power loading.” Another of these signs read “Smile You’re on Camera… No Littering… License Plates Are Being Recorded… Do Better… We Are Watching.”

            The department responds that the signs have been circulated by an unknown “sign fairy,” noting that usage of official logos on the signs indicating the backing of the Buzzards Bay Coalition, the Environmental Police and Rochester Police is not authorized.

            “The Rochester Police Department did not make, post, or endorse these signs,” the Facebook post reads. “Our signs would be way betta. We’re not watching your every move like Bigfoot in the bushes. We’re not issuing $500 fines for fictional boating crimes. There is currently NO 25-horsepower limit in effect at Snipatuit Pond.”

            Rochester Police Chief Michael Assad, Jr. said the town has collected all the signs, a total of four of them. The larger point is the confusing effect they may have left behind in people’s minds. Yes, the department wants to keep the community clean. But Assad wants residents to know “we didn’t post them,” he said. “And none of the agencies with logos on the posting have said they authorized them, our Police Department, the Buzzards Bay Coalition, the Environmental Police.”

            While there is an active investigation to find the “Poster Fairy,” Assad said that person won’t necessarily be charged or fined. “We’ll talk to them and educate them, tell them they can’t post something if it’s not authorized,” he said. “If property was damaged, we could charge them. But we don’t want to charge them if it’s not warranted.”

            “We do not know who posted them,” Conservation Agent Merilee Kelly elaborated, “but we know from the people who have called us and contacted the agencies with their logos on the posters that these agencies had nothing to do with them. The Massachusetts Department of Fisheries doesn’t even post on regulations.”

            She said it was quickly determined to be a hoax. “So, we took them down,” she said. “It was the boaters that saw the signs and called us, called a lot of places around town about this.”

By Michael J. DeCicco

            The Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission met briefly via Zoom on July 3 and covered some important topics, mostly regarding the use of Island Wharf Park.

            Select Board member Norm Hills said two years ago, the wharf area’s jurisdiction was transferred over to the Marine Resources Commission. However, the use of the wharf has expanded to parking for other activities. Hills said there is gravel parking and a road in the area with no official plan behind it.

            “It’s unilaterally expanded its (use),” Hills said, adding that there is no control over who parks in the area. Some trailers and boats are parked in the open space area, which has recently been banned. Hills said a committee has been formed to decide how parking should be conducted.

            “It’s a situation over time. It has been creeping expansion in the area, and nobody has agreed to that or has approved that,” he added.

            “It certainly has been nibbling away at the green space there,” MOSAC Chair John Rockwell said. He said since the late 1980s, village parking has not changed much, but an influx of activities and visitors has.

            Rockwell said he had served on the Conservation Commission when it was proposed that a permit should be needed when they built a gravel parking lot. He said there is a storm drain in the area, which is why he argued against more parking expansion when he served on the Conservation Commission.

            Rockwell added the gravel parking area turns into a “mud pit” when it rains and said there are waterfront facilities there, but the Marine Resources Commission said it does not have the money to manage the parking area.

            The chair said there should be a legal determination for how parking in the area should be conducted and what boards or commissions should be responsible.

            Rockwell said some of the area has grass parking as well, which is often used by people who attend concerts in the area. He said there should be a fee for that parking for the upkeep of the land and also said police could issue tickets to people who are not permitted to park there, which could also generate revenue. “We need more parking because we are not enforcing the rules we have.”

            Also at the remote July 3 meeting, Rockwell said the commission was planning a site visit for Grassi Bog on July 1. The former cranberry bog is located just off Route 6 and is now a wildlife sanctuary, used also for walking trails. Some of the land there might be used as part of the South Coast Bike Path.

            The next meeting of the Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission was not scheduled upon adjournment.

Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission

By Jeffrey D. Wagner