The Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen made resolutions to their initial criteria for their search for a Launch Service in Mattapoisett Harbor. The selectmen deliberated with the Marine Advisory Board at its meeting on Tuesday, March 27.

The Board of Selectmen and Marine Advisory Board met last week with the two candidates vying to start a launch service in Mattapoisett Harbor. While neither candidate have been hired yet, the selectmen assure that good progress has been made in determining what would be best for the town after sitting through the two interviews.

“It’s been a good learning curve for us,” said Selectman Tyler Macallister.

The two boards resolved a variety of different points which were all up in the air during the interviews. First, the two parties agreed that Barstow’s Wharf should be the permanent location of the launch service, and that in its first year, the service would be made available from June 15 through Labor Day from 8:00 am until a half-hour past sunset during the week. From Friday-Sunday, the service would be available until 10:00 pm.

Second, both boards agreed that the candidate selected would have to sign a contract of three years and that the candidate must provide a Coast Guard certified launch as a backup if the primary launch experiences difficulties.

The town would provide a place where the launch could be stored in the off-season for the duration of the contract.

In terms of money, the board agreed that money is not the biggest issue on the table, and it is more a matter of using the minimal amount of dinghies in the harbor as much as possible. An agreement would be reached between the Marine Advisory Board and the selected candidate prior to signing the contract. Both parties also agreed for an opt-out clause on both sides of the contract after the three-year term is up.

The board will re-draft the requirements for the launch service and hope to present them on or around April 15.

In other news, Bill Tilden gave an update for the Annual Fourth of July Road Race. Tilden said he hopes to draw nearly 1,000 runners this year; a figure that is comparable to last year’s turnout. Tilden also said planning is going along very smoothly and little will change.

The only major change will be seen on the race course. Due to construction on North Street that is scheduled for the summer due for the installation of a new drainage system, Tilden is looking to re-route the course and wishes to utilize various side streets in the area instead of North Street. The detoured area is only a matter of a couple hundred yards, he said.

John Cornish gave an update for the Community Sailing Program that will start its sixth season this summer. Cornish presented the board with a packet of information, including a budget report that shows that the program is in a profit loss state. Cornish said several factors contribute to this state including the maintenance of the 25-30 boats, implementation of new life jackets for the 100+ campers each summer and the purchasing of new boat engines.

The Board expressed the desire to get a formal written lease agreement from the Sailing Program and the town, as the program is using a town-owned building for its non-profit purposes.

Town Administrator Michael Gagne said the budget committee is still meeting weekly on Thursdays to firm up the budget for the 2013 fiscal year.

The board approved the appointing of three new members to the council on aging: Marcella Nelson, Alicia Sullivan and Robert Belenger.

It was also announced that the Mattapoisett Annual Town Meeting will be held on Monday, May 14 at 6:30 pm in the Old Rochester Regional High School Auditorium.

The Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen will meet next on Tuesday, April 10 at 7:00 pm.

By Katy Fitzpatrick

The Rochester Planning board briefly met on Tuesday, March 27 to hear final remarks regarding updates made to local flood plain maps and revisions made to language in one section of the flood plain district of the Rochester zoning bylaw.

According to Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon, the old maps date back to 1982, and do not include many details.

“As you can see, they are really visually basic in nature and there aren’t much for landmarks on these maps,” she said. The new maps, which include more detailed illustrations of the town flood plains, will make it easier for builders to develop the land.

The language in question, which deals with proposals for building subdivisions, was originally thought to be too vague, prompting Farinon to seek assistance from the state in redrafting that section.

“This specific language was directly lifted from the federal regulations. The reasons for the additions of language was to meet those federal requirements regarding flood plain management,” Farinon said.  Without that specific language, Rochester would be at risk for losing federal support for flood insurance protection.

Farinon presented the board with a version of the proposal that eliminates redundant language while maintaining the minimum requirements set down by the federal government.            The Planning Board closed the public hearing and found the draft proposal favorable.  They will draft a letter stating their position to be sent to the Selectman, and request the matter be brought up at town meeting.

The next meeting of the Rochester Planning Board will be on April 10 at 7:00 pm at the Town Hall.

By Eric Tripoli

After a hearing continuation, applicant Greg Downey received approval from the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission on Monday, March 26 for a Notice of Intent to construct a new home at Whaler’s Way.

The commission had continued the hearing two weeks ago because the applicant had furnished updated plans with required revisions at the beginning of that meeting, without adequate time for review. The commission had requested time to look over the changes, which included corrected pipe measurements and drainage calculations.

On Monday night, the Commission voted in favor the Downey’s plans, pending an order of standard conditions.

In another matter, the Commission continued the hearing for the Goulart Family’s plans to build a single-family house on Little Pine Way. Commission member Bob Rogers was concerned about the potential amplification of local flooding due to the high grade of the land and the fact that they also call for the filling in of a flood storage area, with no indication to provide compensatory flood storage on the property.

Patricia Tapper, an abutting resident, was also worried about the possible flooding of a small stream that runs through the neighborhood, which is classified as an intermittent or perennial stream, depending on location.

“I can remember that brook has always flooded, unless there was a drought,” she said. The hearing was continued so that the elevation of the area in question could be included on the plans.

In other business, the Commission voted to approve plans to reconfigure the floats and piles at Short Wharf, on Water Street. They also voted to extend the existing Order of Resource Determination Area for property on Brandt Island Road, and approved the Request for Determination of Applicability regarding a septic system upgrade at 4 and 4R Avenue A. A Notice on Intent filed by Christine Gibbons for underground utilities at 37 Water Street also was approved without incident.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission will be on

Tuesday, April 10, at 6:30 pm in the Town Hall.

By Eric Tripoli