The Mattapoisett Recreation Committee is seeking new members to help bring more programs to town, according to Chairman Jeremy Collier, who spoke to the Board of Selectmen at their regular meeting on Tuesday, May 22.

Collier said the committee is looking to expand by two people, increasing the total number of members from five to seven. However, the committee could, by law, add as many as four new members.

“I think it would be advantageous to have four,” said Town Administrator Michael Gagne.

Collier said some of the organizations from which they are seeking new members include the Road Race Committee, Old Rochester Little League, the Council on Aging, Bike Bath Committee, Old Rochester Lacrosse, Matt Sail and others. Collier said recruiting members from different organizations in town would help bring new programs to fruition.

The commitment for new members as it stands right now would be meeting on the first Thursday of every month from September through June at the Center School. However, Collier said he would potentially look into meeting twice per month to make sure new programs are voted on in a timely manner.

“We are hoping to have the positions filled in the next month or two,” he said.

In other news, the Selectmen granted Fire Chief Andrew Murray permission to sell the town’s old Gamewell Fire Boxes. There are 35 of these boxes that used to be connected to the building and poles throughout the town.

“I think you will sell these very quickly,” said Gagne.

Murray said Fairhaven recently sold 100 of these for $75 apiece in two days, however Mattapoisett would have to set their prices based on the varying conditions of each individual box.

The Board also voted to appoint a new police officer as recommended by Police Chief Mary Lyons. Lyons suggested Nick Lorenco, a lifelong Mattapoisett resident. Lorenco studied both Criminal Justine and Business at Bridgewater State University and has been employed part-time as both an EMT and police officer in Mattapoisett since 2007.

“He has very strong credentials,” said Selectmen Chair Paul Silva.

Ray Andrews went before the board to give an update on the newly formed Mattapoisett Housing Trust. The recent Town Meeting awarded the Trust with $25,000 to start funding an affordable housing project for senior citizen in Mattapoisett.

Now that the funds have been acquired, Andrews said the next step is to set up a new Trust Committee and dissolve the old Mattapoisett Housing Partnership. The new Trust Committee would need 5-9 members, including one Selectmen. The Board voted to dissolve the old partnership and to adopt the new Trust.

The Board of Selectmen rearranged themselves for the upcoming year. They voted to appoint Jordan Collyer to be the new Chairman; while Tyler Macallister will assume the Vice Chairman role and Paul Silva will be the board’s new Clerk.

Gagne said both the Planning Board and Open Space Committee were seeking new members. On the Planning Board, one seat is available, and all interested candidates should submit their resumes and letters of recommendation to Town Hall by Tuesday, June 5. Interviews will be conducted on June 12 at the Board of Selectmen regular meeting.

All interested candidates for the Open Space Committee should contact Gagne. He encourages those who are looking for a small, few month’s commitment to get involved.

Gagne also encourages all residents to check out the town’s website, www.mattapoisett.net, for a complete on demand video archive of municipal meetings.

In other news:

•July 4^th Road Race applications are available at Town Hall

•The Farmer’s Market will be held on Tuesdays from June 5 to October 16 from 3:00 to 7:00 pm at the Old Rochester Regional Junior High School.

•Town Hall will be closed on Monday, May 28 in observance of Memorial Day.

The Board of Selectmen will meet again on Tuesday, June 12 at Mattapoisett Town Hall. The meeting will begin at either 6:30 or 7:00 pm depending on the number of interested candidates for the Planning Board open seat.

By Katy Fitzpatrick

The Rochester Planning Board spent some time Tuesday, May 22, at their regular meeting discussing specifics regarding the new solar panel bylaw they are crafting. At the Annual Town Meeting Monday night, the town of Rochester voted unanimously to approve an agreement between the town and Consolidated Edison Solutions, Inc. – on behalf of the City of New Bedford – to allow a large solar panel array be built on town land. The energy generated would provide for the electricity needs for the City of New Bedford Waterworks. This was new territory for the Planning Board.

“We haven’t done an actual zoning like this before,” said Planning Board Chairman Arnold Johnson.

The Planning Board touched upon several details to include in the bylaw, including devising a plan to require solar panel operators to maintain the property, and requiring a bond be put in place to guarantee the operators dismantle the array should it become non-operational at any point in time. Planning Board member Susan Teal said that they should also consider specific and separate requirements, when necessary, for both residential and commercial purposes. They are also considering language to denote regulations and expectations for land-based and structure-based solar panel arrays.

In other business, the Planning Board discussed changes to the town’s home business bylaw. They are considering updating setback laws regarding the location of accessory buildings that are related to a home-based business.  There is no public hearing yet scheduled on this item.

Chairman Arnold Johnson also mentioned that on Monday, June 4, there will be a joint meeting of the Planning Board and the Board of Selectmen in order to appoint someone to fill a vacancy on the Planning Board.

The next meeting of the Rochester Planning Board will be on Tuesday, June 12.

By Eric Tripoli

About 140 Marion residents came out for the Spring Annual Town Meeting on Monday, May 21 – but less than half stayed for the four and a half hours it took to slog through 44 warrant articles.

However, as promised by Town Moderator David Titus, residents did manage to settle the articles in a single night – but not without some heated debate and discourse on the budget, the Marion Open Space Acquisition Committee’s purchasing powers, school expenditure requests, Fire Department capital requests, the need for upgrades to the Town House phone system, and other issues at hand.

In the end, all articles but Article 36 – which was passed over – were approved.

Town residents unanimously approved $18,797,635 for the town’s FY 2013 operating budget. The breakdown of the budget is as follows: 53 percent towards the schools, 10 percent for pension and insurance, 13 percent for public safety, 8 percent for general government, 6 percent for public works, 4 percent for school pension and insurance, 2 percent for school debt, 2 percent for debt service, 1 percent for culture and recreation, and 1 percent for human services.

Although questions arose about the proposed $700,000 budget increase over last year, residents unanimously OK’d the request.

Some of the most time-consuming and contentious articles involved the Marion Open Space Acquisition Committee.

Article 26 asked residents to change the composition of the Community Preservation Committee to reduce MOSAC’s representation. Essentially the article would replace one of the two currently serving Marion Open Space Acquisition Committee members on the CPC with a Selectmen. MOSAC is the only committee that has more than two members sitting on the CPC.

The article passed 85-60, but only after significant debate. CPC Chair Lori Schaefer asked residents to maintain the status quo, and said no issues have arisen due to MOSAC’s higher representation. Likewise, Norman Hills, a CPC member, urged attendees to maintain the current member composition. “I don’t know if this is a real problem or an imaginary problem,” he commented.

Resident Tom Magauran countered these remarks, voicing strong support of the article. “CPC decisions have a huge financial impact, I think it is important that the Board of Selectmen …is seated at the table.”

Selectmen Henry explained the Selectmen’s rationale behind the article – recalling an instance where two MOSAC members held significant sway on an issue because of another member’s absence. “It seems disproportionate that two positions are afforded to the open space people…,” he said.

MOSAC chair John Rockwell said the CPC wasn’t directly informed of the article, and called it “bad governance.”

In the end, the measure barely passed 85-60 – guaranteeing one Selectman a seat at the CPC table and effectively removing a MOSAC representative,

Consideration of a citizen’s petition (Article 35) that would require MOSAC to receive Town Meeting authorization prior to purchasing land or receiving land gifts took up a sizeable portion of the evening. The committee controls about $440,000 to spend on such land purchases. A related measure, Article 36, was passed over at the request of Town Counsel Jon Whitten because it was inconsistent with state law.

Article 35 stirred up debate from a significant crop of residents and even former State Senator Carol Amick, who owns property in Marion. In her statement, Amick said MOSAC’s ability to acquire land without Town Meeting approval “is not a policy followed by any [open space committee] in Massachusetts.”  She said MOSAC still would be able to negotiate, request appraisements and other prep work for a land purchase deal, but that the town would need to be the final arbitrators on an acquisition.

Many other residents spoke for and against the measure.

“Article 35 doesn’t put MOSAC out of business. It formalizes and makes routine purchases so they come for Town Meeting approval. This is a good thing,” weighed in resident Mark Brown.

“This is nonsense. Negotiations in private do not benefit the town….This is pure and utter poppycock. If anybody knows the cluster mess the [MOSAC] negotiations are.. bringing it out in public view will only benefit all of us,” Magauran said.

Other residents questioned the value of purchasing land as open space, which results in more land precluded from development.

“I think it is a difficult article,” said another resident, Charles Bradley. “We’ll go broke buying land and buying land and just letting it sit there.. it is coming off our tax rolls. We need a master plan, and to come up with some good planning instead of acquisition after acquisition.”

Selectman Jon Henry threw his support behind MOSAC’s ability to purchase land without Town Meeting overnight. “I support MOSAC, everything is done in consonance with state law,”

John Rockwell of MOSAC spent considerable time reflecting on the accomplishments of the committee, which was formed in 2001.

“If [the article] passed, it would prevent us from acquiring property.. if you wanted to give us something, you would have to get Town Meeting approval. It’s burdensome to tell someone to wait six months before making transfer.”

Along that argument, Rockwell presented an amendment to the article that would require Town Meeting approval only for purchases, and not for gifts. “It would lessen the burden to someone donating something,” he said.

The vote on Rockwell’s proposed amendment ended up so close a hand count was required. The amendment was defeated 75-63. Shortly thereafter, Article 35 ended up receiving majority approval.

In one anticipated vote, the town easily approved the transfer of a parcel of land (at 185 Wareham Street) to Habitat for Humanity, or other similar organization, for the purpose of constructing a residence to be sold to a qualified low or moderate-income family. The measure further authorized the Board of Selectmen to convey an easement across the property.

Residents also approved two articles related to alternative energy. However – Article 37, which authorizes Selectmen to enter into a lease agreement (up to 30 years) to develop a photovoltaic solar field at a landfill off Benson Brook Road, generated some debate.

Town Administrator Paul Dawson said the town would benefit from the rental agreement with the solar energy developer, and the town would incur no costs associated with developing the site.

In his comments, resident and Planning Board Vice Chair Tom Magauran said he felt more data should be on the table regarding the project.

“I urge you to go very slow. Perhaps in the fall we could do a Planning Board article.. I feel this is a little premature when you haven’t formulated what strategy makes sense.”

Resident Crystal Bradley echoed that sentiment. “How is this part of any plan that you have for this land? It sounds like one of those one-off things we approve without a larger plan.”

Resident Bill Saltonstall, who is involved in the project, said the town’s next step is requesting proposals. “The town doesn’t run any risks with this thing,” he said, citing a similar successful project in Brewster. “If Brewster any indication, we could do this,” he said.  The measure passed easily.

The second alternative energy article, Article 38, authorizes Selectmen and/or the Old Rochester Regional School Committee to enter into alternate energy power purchase and/or net metering credit purchase agreements, including solar and wind energy for contracts exceeding five years. Selectman Stephen Cushing informed the town that the Selectmen are vetting three different wind and solar proposals.

“None would be built in Marion,” he stressed. The measure carried swiftly.

Warrant Article 11 asking for $50,000 to update a new telephone system for the Town House provoked a bit of debate as well. Selectman Henry said it was time for an upgrade to the telephone hardware and software as the town’s “Band-Aid approach” was not working and many voicemail messages had been lost.

Magauran argued that such a purchase would be reactionary, especially given the uncertainty of what will happen with the Town House.

“We react only in the case of an emergency. That is how we got the police station, that is how we got a lot of stuff, and we got to stop that,” he said. “It’s another case of being nicked and dimed… and $50,000 is a big nickel.” Residents applauded.

“You don’t need much trouble with the phone system to get people mad at you.. It’s unreasonable and imprudent. It’s simple to replace the system, and it’s portable,” Selectmen Henry responded.

In response to the question whether the town explored a leasing arrangement, Town Finance Director Judith Mooney responded in the negative

The conversation became so extracted that resident John Sweeney moved the question – and in the end the residents approved the funding for the new system.

Town residents also approved warrant articles regarding the water enterprise fund, including authorization of $2,046,697 for its operation – with some of the funds raised from department receipts. Another 2,346,639 was authorized for the sewer enterprise fund,

Throughout the evening, residents swiftly approved several administrative articles regarding retirements and liability benefits. Also, with relatively little discussion, the Police Department received free cash funds for a new police cruiser and the Fire Department received authorization for $35,000 for air pack replacements, $16,800 for eight replacement automatic external defibrillators, $20,000 to purchase rescue cutters/jaws of life, $48,500 for the department to upgrade its fire alarm system, security components, and computer programs, $12,500 to replace 1,000 feet of 20-year old hose and two nozzles, and $7,5000 to replace four garage door openers at the Spring Street Station.

Residents also authorized the EMS Department to purchase two monitors/defibrillators for $62,500 from free cash. The Harbormaster also had some minor capital requests approved.

In another vote that will have a major impact on town residents, the town unanimously approved FEMA’s latest revised maps of the flood plain district, which go into effect in July. Approval was necessary for town residents to receive coverage under the National Flood Insurance Program.

Also zoning bylaw changes passed without incident, allowing residents more leniency in building piers, docks and association piers. The final zoning bylaw passed allows accessory apartments up to 1,200 square feet; it had previously been restricted to 800 square feet.

By Laura Fedak Pedulli

Rochester held its Annual Town Meeting on Monday May 21, 2012, in the cafeteria of Rochester Memorial School.  The beginning of the meeting was delayed about 20 minutes because a voting quorum of 75 was not present.  Some in attendance called friends and family, asking them to come down so the meeting could proceed.  In total, 83 voters turned out for the meeting.

There were 17 articles on the Town Warrant this year, but very few generated any discussion.  Article 4, the Town Operating Budget, resulted in one question regarding the cut in hours for the Town Clerk.  The Board of Selectmen indicated that the decrease in hours was the result in reduced office hours during the summer and because some responsibilities have been passed to other branches of the town.

Article 15, regarding the construction of a solar array to provide the City of New Bedford Waterworks with its electricity needs, was expected to generate much debate, but there were no questions from the audience. The article would authorize the Selectmen to negotiate a payment in lieu of taxes from the New Bedford Waterworks in exchange for use of Rochester land for the project. Rochester Planning Board Chairman Arnold Johnson did address the meeting regarding the installation of the solar array.

“There is no application for this project currently in front of the Planning Board,” he said.

The final piece, Article 17, did inspire a few comments and clarifications from the Board of Selectmen.  The article deals with the Town of Rochester appropriating money to tie residents on Marion Road and Mary’s Pond Road into the town water system due to the discovery of higher-than-normal levels of contaminants in several samples taken by the Department of Environmental Protection.  The DEP found high levels of trace chemicals found in fireworks in samples taken from town land.  They also requested to sample well water from a total of 22 homes in the area.

Originally only seven consented, with three more agreeing months later.  Normal levels of the chemicals were found in those samples, but as the investigation continued, the DEP later found a slight increase in only two samples taken from the residents’ wells.  The DEP concluded that the Town of Rochester was the most likely responsible party for the presence of these chemicals, and in an effort to rectify the situation without litigation, the town has offered to cover all costs associated with hooking up residents affected by the contamination to town water service.

To view the Annual Town Meeting Warrant in full, visit this link.  Below are the results of the meeting’s votes.

• Article 1: Annual Report of the Town Officers and Committees: Carried 79-0
  

• Article 2:  Elected Officials Salaries: Carried 80-0

• Article 3:  Personnel Bylaw Amendment- Classification and Compensation Plan: Carried 80-0

•  Article 4:  Town of Rochester FY13 Operating Budget: Carried 80-0

• Article 5:  Departmental Revolving Funds Authorization:  Carried 80-0
  

•  Article 6:  Natural Resources Expenses:  Carried 80-0
  

• Article 7:  Chapter 90 Funds Appropriation: Carried 80-0

• Article 8:  Continual Educational/Professional Development Account:  Carried 82-0
  

• Article 9:  Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical School District Incurring Debt: Carried 82-0

• Article 10:  Section IV.E. Industrial District Zoning Bylaw Amendment: Carried 82-0

• Article 11:  Section XVI Site Plan Review Amendment: Carried 82-0
  

• Article 12:  Flood District Bylaw Section VII Amendment: Carried 82-0
  

• Article 13:  Accept MGL  Chapter 200A  Section 9A:  Carried 82-0

•  Article 14:  Power Purchase Agreement:  Carried 82-0

•  Article 15:  Solar Array Payment In Lieu of Taxes: Carried 82-0

• Article 16:  Boats:  Carried 82-0

• Article 17:  Marion Road, Mary’s Pond Road Water Service:  Carried 82-0

By Eric Tripoli

Carried 82-0