The Marion Board of Health met Thursday, March 6 in the Marion Town House with a long list of topics for review. The Chair, John Howard MD, was not present, though the Vice-Chair Albin Johnson III and Edward Hoffer MD were in attendance. The meeting began with a quick approval of septic systems for 99A Allen’s Point Road and a septic system conditions approval for 7 Upland Way.

            Next up was the reappointment of Shallyn Carreiro to Health Specialist to Public Health Excellence Grant Southcoast Collaborative. Carreiro is not a city employee but has worked with the city through the Collaborative.

            The Health Agent update was next discussed, with the top of food inspections first. It was mentioned that most citations have been corrected, though some are awaiting reinspection. The Thai restaurant, Cilantro, requires a hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) inspection as they would like to offer to-go frozen food.

            The variance hearing for 80 Delano Road was held. The property, a part of the Stone Estate, is a four-bedroom home built in 1912. The representative from Great Hill Marion explained the water table on the property is “not s good” and that pumping has bee required multiple times. The proposed change would see the sewer line drain into a denitrification septic tank which will then flow into a pump chamber which will then be pumped to the leaching field. Two variances are requested, and both were approved by the board.

            The next hearing was for 694C Mill Street and the request for a bedroom addition to a 2-bedroom house. A two-bedroom septic system was approved in 2023, though now a new owner seeks an additional bedroom. It was stated there were once two domiciles on the property, though one was removed around 2006-2007. The increased septic capacity would allow for an additional bedroom or an additional dwelling (ADU). The request was approved.

            On the next item, it was recommended that new plans be submitted for work on Cross Neck Road, Map 7, Lot 21, due to new changes not being reflected in the board’s current plans.

            For the Public Health Director Update, flu or influenza-like illness has peaked in the state at 11.86% though related visits are down to 8.12%. Due to new state regulations, a MAVEN backup person is required. Sue Griffith was nominated, and approved, to fulfil this posting.

            For community EMS, Mondays and Thursdays are when home-visits will continue to be conducted. For the Public Health Excellence Grant (PHEG), it was stated there is much time and effort to fulfil the state’s grant-requirements including cost analyses.

            The board is seeking a fill for its Health Agent job posting, though it was said no one with the necessary experience has yet applied. The lack of local programs focused on teaching students to fill this position was cited as a reason for this deficit.

            The next meeting of the Marion Board of Health will be Thursday, March 20 at 4:30 pm in the Marion Town House Conference Room.

Marion Board of Health

By Sam Bishop

            The Marion Planning Board met Monday night for an extensive and detailed public hearing on the proposed Short-Term Rental Properties Bylaw, its draft, and to go over changes to it – among a few other action items. In the audience were two Select Board members, Chairman Norm Hills and Randy Parker.

            The first item was that of Vivian Shelton’s property at 371 Delano Road and the request for approval to split the property into two lots. Planning Board Chairman Andrew Daniel said the Board could not stop the owner from splitting the property, though both lots must still be compliant. As in, both lots need grinder pumps and proper sewage systems. There is also potential for issues with lot lines and building distance from borders, per Daniel. Board member W. Dale Jones, referring to the need for separate sewage systems, saying, “make sure they are safe – if one fails, both are in trouble.”

            The second and third hearings were for the same property, 163 Front Street, and another lot split. Sisters Aimee Bean and Molly Lombard want to divide the property to accommodate both of their massage therapy offices. They have been located in Mattapoisett for around 10 years, Lombard said, and are making the move to Marion. They have the endorsement from their landlord and seek the split due to their separate business and clients. The Special Permit request was approved unanimously.

            Finally, there was the public hearing on the Short-Term Rental Properties Bylaw. The process for the creation of this bylaw has been about a year, the chairman explained, with the insistence it is warranted due to there currently being no town-based regulation for short-term rentals.

            The discussion saw the board systematically go through the current draft, revised in February, and detail possible changes and problems highlighted by various sources. It was initially stated the difference in short-term rentals (STR) and long-term rentals (LTR) must be clarified. Massachusetts state law was cited with a STR being less than 30 concurrent days and no lease agreement. After the discussion on comments given to the board began and comments on draft changes had started, public questioning began.

            First, public comments aired with many in the audience saying comments to each other rather than the Planning Board. The first commentor expressed worry of the new regulations and possible limitations and hurdles for STR’s.

            “You have a set of rules, and you have to judge everyone by the same rules,” said Hills, referring to a need to judge all businesses by the same laws.

            Another member of the public stated, “a short-term rental is a business, so what you’re doing is putting a business in a residential zone and no one would allow a motel or a hotel to be in a residential zone.”

            The owners of 16 Inland Road again said they felt it unfair that they have run a STR in this town and problems and complaints had “never come up.” The owner stated the changes are due to Airbnb being “demonized.” The owner also said the comparison of Airbnb’s and motel/hotels is unsubstantiated.

            “You are allowed to have small businesses in your home,” one of the owners said. She also cited their adherence to current law and the paying of their taxes. Daniel added “short-term rentals have been a part of Marion history for decades and decades. We have a lot of them. They are all in residential areas.” He continued, “they have to apply, and they have to have regulations,” also mentioning inspections and property safety.

            Marilyn Whalley of Piney Point brought up the cost of living and expense of home ownership. She said, “people who lived here quite a while are looking for more affordable homes,” and she mentioned locals looking to downsize due to rising costs. She continued, “what I’m finding with Airbnb – is that it’s gotten so blown up that it’s taking away a lot of units that could be long-term housing.” She would later stress the need for more housing for both local workers and the elderly and said an increase in STR would “have an effect on people not being able to live here.”

            In terms of a limitation on the number of STR properties in Marion, the amount of 10% or another possible agreed-upon percentage of homes was discussed, though it was difficult for the board to quantify due to there being no definite number to the properties offered as STR at the current time.

            Parker added from the audience that there are currently 69 Marion properties listed on Airbnb, though Daniel said there are possibly many more offered elsewhere, meaning the number is likely already over 10%. Hills mentioned independent research agencies that can analyze and determine exactly how many, though Daniel argued a STR registration would make that unnecessary. Planning Board member Tucker Burr interrupted the long discussion on the number of STR’s by saying the exact number is arbitrary, though the “feel” and “culture” of the town must be preserved.

            To limit the number of STR’s in town, along with registration, Daniel also spoke about the possibility of a lottery system. It was also brought up that the Town of Marion has no noise-ordinance bylaw, so the inclusion of anything like that in the STR bylaw would be awkward and hard to enforce.

            Town Planner Doug Guey-Lee said the STR Bylaw is about “a draft or two away from approving,” citing the many changes and revisions still to come. The deadline for the submission of the bylaw to Town Counsel is March 14, with the Planning Board planning on meeting with the Select Board at its next meeting to go over draft changes. The process for the adoption of this bylaw is approval by the Planning Board, then the Select Board, to Town Counsel and finally a vote by Marion residents at the Annual Town Meeting on May 12.

            Parker noted Town Counsel’s normally lengthy process for approval and the need to deliver a complete bylaw, rather than doing it draft by draft with major alterations.

            The general discussion and arguments are not unlike that currently taking place across coastal New England, the United States, and internationally. There are globally over 5,000,000 hosts and currently over 2,250,000 Airbnb’s offered in the United States. Nearby, Boston has recently limited the number of days a property can be rented as a STR.

            The public hearing was continued to the next Planning Board meeting on Monday, March 17, at 7:00 pm at the Marion Police Department conference room.

Marion Planning Board

By Sam Bishop

The Old Rochester Regional School Committee met on February 27.  The committee set out to cover FY26 budget changes, curriculum updates, and other concerns. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to budget discussions.

            Superintendent Michael S. Nelson began with general work and the committee approved foreign exchange students for next year as well as the application for a new high school nurse. The committee approved grants and donations with members debating the allocations of resources to the classroom or otherwise.

            Principal Mike Devoll discussed curriculum and course changes. Changes to the MCAS were discussed, with the potential to “opt-out” questioned. There is no way for a student to opt out, though they can be marked absent and not forced to re-take. Though if students do not take the test, they lose out on potential scholarships. Student support systems and mental health initiatives were also discussed, including the continued support of unified sports teams and unified physical education. This allows students to support each other both throughout the school day and after school.

            Curriculumadjustments aimed at enhancing student performance were brought up, including new science courses for 10th graders. Interest in many different areas has been expressed by students, including field biology and natural history. More changes to journalism classes and AP were touched on. The addition of a new civics and financial literacy course, set to better prepare students to be leaders in their community and government is set to be added. Student, teacher, and community feedback were said to have played a crucial role in shaping these changes.

            The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of the board’s commitment to transparency and collaboration. The next school committee meeting is scheduled for March 27 in the Media Room of ORR Junior High.

ORR School Committee

By Sam Bishop