Muzzle Order Extended 90 Days

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            Georgie the Saint Bernard is still considered a nuisance dog and will have to be muzzled outside of her home until Labor Day.

            The Select Board on Tuesday made that decision after learning that the dog, which allegedly attacked another dog in December 2023 at Silvershell Beach, was photographed not wearing a muzzle before a one-year muzzle order expired in late March this year.

            Boston-based lawyer Jeremy Cohen, who specializes in dog-nuisance issues, said that a muzzle is a bit extreme because the dog has never bitten a person and the incident in 2023 was the only documented evidence of the dog expressing aggression. He said that the dog’s owner, Verena Hultsch of Vine Street, has complied with town directive over a 432-day period. After a hearing in March of last year, Hultsch has fenced in her yard and posted a sign on the gate. She has also kept the dog on a leash that can handle up to 300 pounds while maintaining a 3-foot distance from the owner. Georgie has also been professionally trained and continues to visit a trainer.

            Georgie has also been banned from visiting Silvershell Beach and Washburn Park, where dogs and their owners often visit.

            Cohen accused town residents of being “deputized” to take photos of Georgie without a muzzle.

            “People are walking around snapping pictures,” he said. “People are deputized.”

            Cohen said that the incident in 2023, when resident Miles Grant’s goldendoodle Harry was allegedly attacked by Georgie, leading to a puncture wound and a veterinarian visit and $200 bill.

            Cohen noted that Grant allegedly kicked Georgie in the head several times and that the dog laid down and stopped the attack on the goldendoodle. He said that alone is not a sign of a dangerous dog.

            Citing the expense of veterinarians, Cohen said that injury was minor and $200 is a small bill based on current rates. He also described beaches in the wintertime and dog parks in general as “the wild west” and indicated that all owners and their dogs should expect possible fights or issues.

            Cohen said that “considering Saint Bernards tend to slobber, keeping a muzzle on the animal is an extreme punishment.”

            “The idea of muzzling this dog who has never bitten somebody is a stretch,” Cohen said, adding that Hultsch is a responsible dog owner.

            He added that she has prevented any injuries from happening to any dog or person in the last year.

            Robert Hlady, a neighbor, said that his dog has play dates with Georgie and there have never been any issues. He described Georgie as a “sweet and gentle dog.”

            Animal Control Officer Susan Connor told the board on Tuesday that there have been other incidents of aggression involving Georgie. According to Marion Select Board meeting minutes from March 2024, Connor said she observed Georgie behaving aggressively at Washburn Park in May 2023 and cited an incident in which Georgie knocked down a resident and her service dog.

            “My experience with Georgie is she does need a muzzle and has had interactions with other people and their dogs, and what they have reported is there have been other bites. … I’m not trying to inhibit Georgie’s freedom.”

            Cohen countered that he has filed a Freedom of Information Act request and has not seen any definitive evidence of any other aggression from Georgie and has not even seen evidence of the puncture wound caused on Grant’s dog Harry in December 2023.

            Town Counsel Gregg Corbo disputed Cohen’s claim that residents have been deputized. Corbo said that Georgie’s owner has complied with all directives except for keeping the dog muzzled in public before the March 2025 deadline. He cited evidence in January, February and early March of Georgie without a muzzle in a public place.

            Corbo mentioned that Connor has observed aggressive behavior, and the owner did not comply with the muzzle order within the one-year probationary period. He proposed the dog use a muzzle with a basket, which would prevent discomfort, for the next 90 days.

            The Select Board agreed to revisit the issue on September 2.

            Cohen also noted that Georgie is a victim of a past incident in which a dog was killed and another was severely injured in Marion.

            Cohen said Georgie’s case bears no similarities.

            Select Board Chair Randy Parker said that the board treats every case individually. He said that evidence shows Georgie was not muzzled during the probationary period. He and other officials recommend extending the muzzle requirement for 90 days and will revisit it.

            Board members appeared to agree that Georgie is not a dangerous dog, but a nuisance and steps should be taken to protect the public. They said keeping the dog on a muzzle for the rest of summer would be a good compromise.

            In other news, firefighters asked the Select Board to house a 1937 Ford Truck, a historical fixture in town, at the Department of Public Works garage. Firefighters said the antique truck is a popular item in town with historical value, participating in parades, Santa runs, and other town affairs. Parker said the board would take the issue under consideration. Parker said the town has plans for extending sewer to that property and has not considered the possibility yet.

            Select Board Vice Chairman John Hoagland said that property has also been considered for senior affordable housing.

            In other business, Water and Sewer officials recommended maintaining the same water rates for fiscal 2026 but said the Sewer Enterprise Fund is running at a deficit of $5,000. They proposed a 1.5% base increase and a 4% increase for each tier. Select Board members asked that they break that down for the public in both letters to customers and on the town website (marionma.gov).

            The Select Board will hold a joint meeting with the Planning Board on Thursday, June 5, at 7:00 pm in the Marion Police Department. The Select Board will also hold a Special Meeting on Monday, June 9, at 6:00 pm in the Marion Town House.

Marion Select Board

By Jeffrey D. Wagner

Upcoming Events at the Elizabeth Taber Library

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Yoga on the Library Lawn starts this week. Join Elke Pierre from The Marion Yoga Loft Tuesday mornings starting at 8:30 am. This free event is open to all, please bring your own mat.

            Join us for snacks and fun at the library on Thursday June 5 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm as we launch a month-long community art project to celebrate Pride at the library.

            Celebrate the start of summer with an after-school Boba Party, Wednesday June 11 at 12:30 pm.

            Register starting June 11 to Level Up at Your Library. Every child who registers for summer reading will receive a free book. Finish your reading goal, and win another book of your choice. Visit the library throughout the summer to find summer adventures with coupons from local businesses and passes to institutions throughout the commonwealth. Stay tuned for more information on our exciting summer programs.

            You won’t want to miss our Summer Reading Kickoff. You’ll find larger-than-life games at the Library from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm on Saturday, June 14. Play lawn games and inflatable games, chow down on carnival snacks, and sign up for summer reading. This all-ages program includes live music from local funk band Get the Funk Out and creative activities from the Marion Natural History Museum.

            Kids can create fun and wearable jewelry at Karenna Maraj’s Kids Beaded Jewelry Workshop, for ages 7-13; Saturday, June 28 at 10:30 am – Spaces are limited, call the library to register

            Everyone is invited to the Elizabeth Taber Library’s Annual Meeting, Monday June 23 at 5:30 pm. Explore our new space and see highlights from the past year.

            For more information on the Elizabeth Taber Library visit us at www.ElizabethTaberLibrary.org or email the library at ETLibrary@sailsinc.org.

Mattapoisett Congregational Church Scholarships

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At the Mattapoisett Congregational Church Julie Mennino handed out six scholarships on June 1 including: New Bedford High senior Elliott Talley earned the Coquillette family scholarship and is planning to attend Northeastern. He hopes to also continue his advocacy for the community. Old Rochester senior Ella Bartholomew also earned a scholarship from the Coquillette family and heads to BU in the fall to study medicine and genetic diseases. Emily Wyman received a third Coquillette family scholarship. She will go on from Old Rochester to attend Boston College to pursue elementary education. Mackenzie LeBlanc graduated from ORR and earned a Memorial scholarship. She heads to Roger Williams college to study business. She hopes to design and open her own business. From Bishop Stang, senior Keagan Plante earned a Memorial scholarship. He heads South to Salve Regina and aims to use his education to give back to the community and family. Matthew Rock graduated from Old Rochester and is interning now at ProtoXYZ engineering. He will attend the University of Tennessee to further his studies in engineering. From there he hopes to earn his MBA and start his own engineering company.

Mattapoisett Select Board

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To the Editor;

            If you are looking for evidence to support the expansion of our Mattapoisett Select Board from 3 members to 5, look no further than the May 27 Select Board meeting and the conversation there about that subject.

            The current Select Board members ranged from outright negativity to a disinclination to reveal whether the majority vote of Town Meeting should be validated with the next step in the citizen petition process, which is to send a home rule petition reflecting the vote to the Massachusetts legislature. This, despite a record of one member previously saying they would certainly support the will of the citizens at the Town Meeting. Isn’t that how town authorities ordinarily respond to the directives of Town Meeting?

            It was not clear to me why the votes of Town Meeting had not yet been certified. I heard that it was typical for certification to happen within a day or two of town meeting. Then I heard that a 2-week delay from the May 12 meeting was nothing unusual. In any case, until the certification is confirmed, the Select Board members insisted the subject was closed.

            Select Board members voiced some specific objections to the majority vote of Town Meeting. They were offended by some voters leaving the meeting after the vote on this warrant article. They also insinuated that the vote may not have been a majority after all (or sufficient enough??). They also raised the idea of now having a town ballot measure.

            I have seen an exodus from town meetings several times before this – remember the controversial “nips” vote a few years ago or the right-to-farm bylaw vote before that. I do not recall anyone questioning the validity of those votes because voters left those meetings.

            I have enough math education to know that a majority is defined as ‘the greater number.’ Sufficiency is irrelevant after 50% plus 1. Overwhelming is not required.

            And of course, we town residents know that town meetings are the established form of local government in Mattapoisett whereby all eligible residents can directly participate in an assembly which determines the town governance. Residents may choose or not to attend (or to stay for the entire meeting), but they know that votes will happen with or without them. Being so sympathetic to non-attendees seems to disrespect those who have the interest and make the effort to be there at the official and well-publicized town governance event. No one should be able to insist on a ballot do-over.

            Proponents of this warrant article followed the instructions provided by the town administrator and town counsel, obtaining sufficient signatures to put the article on the warrant and making the case in person at Town Meeting.

            My personal views are based on decades of experience as a member of committees, boards, and councils, sometimes as chairperson, and also as a senior executive who staffed corporate boards. The more talent, experience, expertise, and education in a robust board setting, the better. I question the good judgement of those who think it would be counter-productive to have more, and possibly more valuable, input into important town decisions.

            It was emphasized by the town administrator that the Select Board is the “only power that can petition the legislature to pass a home rule petition”, but only if it so chooses, regardless of Town Meeting vote. I question the fair judgment of a group who believes itself entitled to disregard “the will of the people” expressed by Town Meeting.

            I hope that the Select Board does what Town Meeting approved by majority vote.

Kathleen Creegan Damaskos, Mattapoisett

The views expressed in the “Letters to the Editor” column are not necessarily those of The Wanderer, its staff or advertisers. The Wanderer will gladly accept any and all correspondence relating to timely and pertinent issues in the great Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester area, provided they include the author’s name, address and phone number for verification. We cannot publish anonymous, unsigned or unconfirmed submissions. The Wanderer reserves the right to edit, condense and otherwise alter submissions for purposes of clarity and/or spacing considerations. The Wanderer may choose to not run letters that thank businesses, and The Wanderer has the right to edit letters to omit business names. The Wanderer also reserves the right to deny publication of any submitted correspondence. All letters must be typed and submitted directly to: news@wanderer.com.

Women’s Rights Day

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“Women’s Rights Day” was celebrated by all the fifth graders of Old Hammondtown School on May 20. OHS teachers, Katherine Trudell, Amy Casi, and Stacy Barrows collaborated with the Mattapoisett Museum to develop a program of workshops to dovetail with their unit of study in presentations at the school.

            The morning began with a presentation, Women’s Rights, from Sandy Dawson and her daughter, Sandy Galavotti. Dawson started her business in 1978, and she shared how hard it was for women to have their own businesses. She could not install a telephone for her office unless her husband signed off on the paperwork. She also shared a few stories to illustrate roadblocks to women. In one, a client told her that because she was “just a housewife.” she didn’t need to get a full commission on a property that she sold. She persisted, and in the end, she was given the full amount. Ms. Galavatti explained that currently, women were much better off in the workplace, however, the inequity of pay for the same job as a man was still unbalanced. She said that women make $.83 for every dollar a man makes or 17% less for doing the same job.

            After this presentation Connor Gaudet, Curator and Administrator of the Mattapoisett Museum, and members from the Education Team members, Katherine Gaudet and Robbin Smith, presented the workshop, “How to Interpret Artifacts.” Using PowerPoint, Gaudet reviewed primary and secondary resources, and how to evaluate them using a four-step process: Observation, Reflection, Questioning and Further Investigation. Using a wedding purse from the Museum’s collections, Gaudet modeled how to take notes using the four-step process.

            Then groups of four students were given an artifact related to women’s rights to explore and evaluate through the same process. Students eagerly jumped at the chance. After washing hands and hearing how to handle antique artifacts, they engaged in being historical detectives themselves.

            One group had a photo from the 1890s of three people riding bikes on Church Street in Mattapoisett, one of whom was a woman wearing pants. There was a bathing suit designed by Annette Kellerman who was once arrested wearing one of her bathing suits that was deemed scandalous because it showed too much skin. Another group of students held a commemorative rubber stamp created by Mary Ransom, the first female Postmaster of Mattapoisett. Finally, a group had the List of Mattapoisett Women Voters from 1920 – the first year women were able to vote. Some students were excited to find relatives on the list. After taking notes on their artifacts, students shared what they had learned and why the artifact was important to women’s rights and Gaudet provided additional information where needed.

            Concurrent with this group, Education Team members Gail Roberts and Carole Clifford presented Mattapoisett’s Important Historical Women to another fifth-grade class. Roberts and Clifford engaged students with anecdotes about Mary Ransom, Florence Eastman, Huybertie Hamlin, Cecil Clark Davis, and Elizabeth Barstow Stoddard who all championed women’s rights through their work, art, nursing, writing or social engagement. Then students were handed a short biography of each woman telling the rest of her story. After reading through it and highlighting important facts, students shared what they had learned and answered the questions, “Why was this Mattapoisett woman important to history? and “What part did she play in championing women’s rights?”

            On May 21, students visited the Museum for a treasure hunt for artifacts. They were also asked to identify what their favorite artifact was and why. The diorama of a Wampanoag village created by an ORR teacher and her students many years ago, the model of the Wanderer built by George Lowry, a bride’s wedding dress and vest worn by the groom, were all favorites, along with many more.

            Finally, students were given a tour of the village by Carol Clifford and Jen McIntyre where they learned about the storied history of Mattapoisett. Many students came back especially excited about native Francis Davis Millet who was an American painter, sculptor, and writer known for his artistic talent. He was returning home to create a mural in New Bedford but perished on the Titanic.

Town Clerk Remains An Elected Position

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The Rochester Town Election on May 28 defeated a move to make the Town Clerk an appointed, rather than an elected position and sparked a recount in the race for Park Commission.

            A total of 349 voters said “yes” to the question of whether to change the Town Clerk to an appointed position instead of an elected one. But 516 voters said “no,” defeating the measure by 167 votes. “The people had their choice,” Town Clerk Marjorie Barrows said, declining to say how she felt personally about the question’s failure. “That’s the power of voting.”

            Last Wednesday’s election also voted to replace veteran Park Commissioner David Hughes with youth sports coach and mechanical engineer Nate Reece, but by a narrow margin. Reece won the Park Commission seat by 10 votes. He garnered 480 votes, while Hughes received 470 votes.

            When asked on Wednesday if he is considering a recount in his race against Reece, Hughes said he wasn’t sure. “I have to weigh it out. I don’t want it to be a burden to the town, the cost. And would it make much of a difference? I congratulate him. He worked hard.”

            But On Sunday, Hughes announced to The Wanderer his decision to ask for that recount. “Today (Sunday) I just put a letter in the mailbox of the Town Hall for the Town Clerk,” he said in a telephone message. “I am going for a recount.”

            Wednesday found Reece a bit surprised by his apparent win. “I wasn’t sure what to expect,” he said moments after Barrows read the results. “Dave was running on his reputation. I had no prediction. I am a little shocked. If I had lost, I wouldn’t be surprised. But I think this town was ready to hear from a young voice. There are a lot more young people in town now.”

            As to what his future plans would be for his stint on the commission, he said he has some ideas but first he will confer with his fellow board members. Yes, he is still interested in exploring a larger plan for the Raynor Gifford Park where a new 3,649 square-foot, $81,724.68 playground was the only renovation this May. He recently presented such a proposal to the Select Board, but he wants public agreement with any plan first. “I will talk to the Park Commission and see where things stand,” he said. “I’d like public engagement. What do they want that will impact them?”

            Elsewhere on the ballot, an open seat on the Rochester Memorial School Committee went to Kirstin Jimenez, the RMS Parent Teacher Organization President. Jimenez won with 498 votes against 461 votes for Barbara Lee.

            Meg Hughes was the top vote getter for a spot on the Cemetery Commission, with nine votes. This position had no official candidate on the ballot, and she was a write-in candidate. For Planning Board, Michael Murphy received 683 votes as an official candidate on the ballot. Current Planning Board member Matt Bache received 26 write-in votes for re-election.

            A total of 980 voters cast their ballots last Wednesday, which is 20% of the town’s registered voters. Barrows said last year’s turnout was roughly 1,400 voters but that this year’s turnout was pretty good, too. “It was close to 1,000,” she said.

Rochester 2025 Annual Town Election

By Michael J. DeCicco

Live by The Semicolon

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Editor’s note: The Wanderer has invited student keynote speakers for local high school graduation ceremonies to share their speeches for publication. Below is the speech given by Old Rochester Regional 2025 Valedictorian Caitlin O’Donnell on Saturday in the ORR gymnasium.

            Superintendent Nelson, Principal Devoll, faculty, staff, school committee members, administrators, family, friends, and the class of 2025, welcome. It is an incredible honor to be standing here today with such a talented and immensely gifted graduating class.

            When I was first given the task to write this speech, I felt lost in the millions of words jumbled around in my mind of what I wanted to say. And so, I decided to embark on a journey through the Internet to sift out the main point that would feel just right, and one night I was even Googling graduation speeches shown on television out of desperation. Of course Troy Bolton, Elle Woods, and Rory Gilmore’s words of advice are most certainly iconic, still nothing seemed to “click.” Until I realized, it was right in front of me all this time, and something which I have held deeply with me these past four years.

            Located just below the letter “P” on my keyboard, staring back at me during the hours of scrolling through my computer, was the semicolon.

            Now you might be thinking, what does a simple punctuation mark – which we used repeatedly in our grammar worksheets and essays – have to do with graduating high school? In order to answer this question, I must take a quick moment to describe my story.

            From a young age, I grew up as a perfectionist. I can remember the days in Kindergarten where I would be the last one finishing up our ABC practice, making sure my tracings didn’t steer off the dotted lines. But once I reached high school, this perfectionism culminated into moments of mental exhaustion. Throughout my years in high school, I have struggled with my mental health. The work that I loved to do began to be extremely difficult, and on some days, even getting out of bed seemed impossible. There were numerous times when I felt my dreams were lost, and that I was trapped in an endless cycle of hopelessness. But it is in these very moments where I encountered the profound meaning of the semicolon.

            If any of you remember from English class (which I hope you do by now), the semicolon joins two closely related independent clauses, or completed sentences. While this may be the dictionary definition of its use, to me, it holds something even more valuable than what it does on a simple piece of paper. It replaces the period. Instead of the sentence ending completely, its meaning coming to a close, it continues on. When an author could have ended the sentence, they chose not to.

            During the times where I wanted to give up, I had the support of my family, my friends, my teachers, and my guidance counselors who made each tomorrow more possible, for which I am eternally grateful. They shined a light on the beauty of taking one more step forward. I chose to live by the semicolon, instead of by the period. And because of that, I am living out one of the happiest weeks of my life.

            My fellow classmates, you are the authors of your own lives, and you’ve each chosen the semicolon already, even without realizing it. You crossed off the days on the calendar, you pushed through the final exams, you got out of bed and showed up today. Our semicolons may look a little different to each of us, but we all chose to add that same little punctuation mark to the end of our sentence. We’ve all decided that this sentence is not quite finished.

            Remember, no matter where your journey takes you next, you will inevitably encounter hardship. You will fail a class, lose a few friends, experience heartbreak, make mistakes. But the semicolon reminds us that there is always tomorrow. You will ace a test, build lasting friendships, find true love, discover new lessons and learn from them.

            Each of our own little worlds comes with its individual challenges, obstacles, and setbacks. But I urge you all to continue to live by the semicolon, to never, ever give up. If there is anything I have taken away these past four years, it is that life is meant to be lived, not just survived. Life is an inexplicable culmination of love, grief, excitement, joy, anger, and fear. But that is what makes it so beautiful. That is what makes it worth waking up for. That is why we choose to continue the sentence.

            Before I conclude, I ask you all to take the time to appreciate the people in your life who have guided you to the very seat you are sitting in, as now I would like to recognize some very important people in my life, who without, I would not be standing up here today. To my fellow classmates, thank you for the fond memories of elementary school, the transformative experiences of junior high, and channeling the spirit of High School Musical throughout the halls at Old Rochester. To my friends, thank you for all of the heartfelt memories, as I will forever cherish the laughter we have shared together. To all of my teachers and guidance counselors, especially Ms. Wickman, Ms. Harrison, Mr. Allain, Mr. Apperson, Mr. McCarthy, Ms. Brunelle, Dr. Janicki, and my teachers at Bishop Stang my freshman year, particularly Mrs. Habershaw, Mrs. Pimentel, Mr. Hurst, and my guidance counselor Mrs. Hamel, thank you for your utmost kindness, compassion, and encouragement. I will hold your words close to me in my years in college and beyond.

            But most importantly, I want to take the time to thank my family, who are my guideposts in everything I do. To my brothers, Declan and Aidan, who have shown me how to always find the little moments of happiness and joy in each and every day. To my parents, who have sacrificed so much for me and have shown me nothing but unconditional love. To my dad, who is the most hardworking and resilient person I know. You have always put my needs before your own, and your dedication to our family is never unnoticed. And finally to my mom, who is my ultimate best friend and my sister. You have seen me at my lowest, but you have never given up on me once. I am forever in debt to your endless love and support.

            To the class of 2025, I once again urge you all to live by the profound meaning of the semicolon. No matter what may come along your path, always remember that there is so much light that comes from the darkness. For the flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all.

            Oh, but if you do use the semicolon in a college paper, remember not to capitalize the next clause. It might save you a couple points.

            Thank you. And congratulations!

By Caitlin O’Donnell

What’s Up There?

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In May, we had the long-awaited return of the Soviet Venus explorer, Kosmos 482. It returned home on Saturday, May 10, crashing somewhere into the Indian Ocean after 53 years. It was previously hypothesized and reported it would land somewhere near the United Kingdom. Only 7,000 miles off!

            June offers its own exciting astronomical events, though no large-scale satellite reentries. Planet viewing is a little lackluster. Venus and Saturn will be visible in the morning, with Mars visible at night but fading away nearer to midnight. However, the best view of Mercury all year will be in the middle/end of the month, though it is still generally difficult to spot.

            The Arietids meteor shower begins on Thursday, May 29, and runs through June 17, with its peak on June 7. The shower averages around 60 meteors per hour – or one every minute (though it could even be higher at times). To catch them, know they dart across the sky between the Aries and Perseus constellations. This means they are low, near the horizon to the east.

            This month’s full moon is named the “Strawberry Moon” due to its timing aligning with the peak of strawberry harvests. It occurs on June 11. With that, don’t forget to go strawberry picking!

            June 20 is the summer solstice heralding the arrival of summer. Happy Vestalia to the Romans. As always, this is the longest day of the year in terms of daylight hours.

            There will be a new moon on June 25, though it won’t be visible to us. This makes for a darker sky and an excellent day to track planets, constellations, nebulas, and galaxies.

            June 30 is International Asteroid Day, as proclaimed by the United Nations. June 30 is the 117th anniversary of the “Tunguska Event” happening in Russia in 1908. An asteroid 150-200 feet wide traveling a little over 60,000 miles per hour, per estimate, blew up (air burst) over sparsely populated central Siberia. The explosion blew over nearly 80,000,000 trees. This event is the largest meteor impact humans have recorded in our short time tracking such. The purpose of the international day is to raise awareness for such events, while also highlighting the “luck” we have experienced, should it have landed somewhere else on the planet.

            There is always plenty to see and many apps, websites, and other resources to aid in identifying. NASA is always great for events (like the meteor shower) and ISS flyovers. Happy and lucky stargazing to you.

Astronomy Update for June

By Sam Bishop

Machacam Club

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The next meeting of the Machacam Club is scheduled for Wednesday, June 4. We meet at the American Legion Hall on Depot Street. Social time begins at 5:00 pm followed by dinner at 6:00 pm. Our speaker will be introduced at 6:40 pm. Chef Colby is planning another satisfying meal. Callers, please send your counts by 9:00 pm Monday, June 2. Please submit inquiries to cwmccullough@comcast.net.

Board Advances Key Projects Following Town Meeting

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            The Rochester Planning Board meeting on Tuesday started with a sequel to last week’s Annual Town Meeting vote approving a zoning change to the Cranberry Highway Smart Growth Overlay District, site of a 40R residential/mixed use project being proposed for Cranberry Highway and County Road.

            Ken Steen of Steen Realty and Development Corporation and his engineering consultant from Allen & Majors, Lakeville, appeared before the board to discuss what happens next with the master plan for Rochester Crossroads, 22 Cranberry Highway. The Allen & Majors consultant clarified that the new plan is for a sub district for two town houses and another sub-district for multi-family apartment units. He said the company wanted to move forward with the application for these new filings and wanted their feedback on the initial plan, including what the filing fees will be. Planning Board Chair Arnold Johnson instructed him that most are standard cost, and the peer review filing fee is $5,000.

            The Planning Board had approved this project four years ago, originally for 208 units. Steen explained to the Town Meeting last week that the new plan for the 32.9 acre site will be 212 multi-family units.

            The board Tuesday then approved a one-year extension of the Special Permit and Groundwater Protection District special permits for the Braley Hill North Solar Large Scale Photovoltaic installation that includes work on a scenic highway, Route 105. The board set the new permit deadline for June 28, 2026.

            Next, the board approved a modification of the Special Permit and Groundwater Protection District Special Permit for Cushman Solar on Cushman Road, a plan to construct additional sub-drainage improvements within an existing driveway off of Robinson Road, but only after fielding the concerns of several neighbors over water drainage onto their properties. In response, Johnson emphasized that the contractor and developer will be responsible to not increase or redirect the water drainage flow with this project.

            In other action, the board continued to its next meeting the hearing to construct a 20,000 square-foot commercial building for contractor bays with associated access drives, parking areas, utilities and storm water management system at the west side of Cranberry Highway, upon the applicant’s request.

            After hearing encouraging feedback from the neighbors, the board also continued to its next meeting its Special Permit and Site Plan Review hearing for Logging Swamp Solar dba ReWild Renewables’ plan for a solar panel array on 49 acres in the area of 600 Snipatuit Road. Its abutters had repeatedly asked that the access road be moved further away from their properties. With a roomful of them looking on, Zak Markes of ReWild Renewables said he has tried to extend the olive branch as he can, and he did re-design the road to be as far away from their properties as possible. He told Alan Gragnani of 655 Snipatuit Road the road will now be 72 feet from the closest point on his property, and Lisa Christensen of 663 Snipatuit Road was told that the road is now 44 feet away. Both thanked him for making the change.

            Lastly, the board began hearing a Definitive Subdivision plan for a 14.4-acre parcel at 34 Dr. Braley Road to create two house lots, one with a single-family home and another for a single-family home and agricultural building. Board members reported correspondence from a neighbor complaining he did not want the agricultural building to become a venue for public events such as weddings and other parties. Applicant Dawn Allen assured the board members will be merely to store tractors, etc. This hearing too was continued to the next meeting.

            The Rochester Planning Board’s next meeting will be Tuesday, June 10 at 7:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.

Rochester Planning Board

By Michael J. DeCicco