Its resident survey already launched, the Town of Rochester announced on Tuesday morning the public process toward developing a Master Plan with the guidance of the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD.)

            Town Planner Nancy Durfee serves on the Master Plan Committee and will focus on land use with Planning Board Chairman Arnie Johnson, while Rochester Facilities Manager Andrew Daniel, Select Board member Brad Morse (economic development), Matthew Monteiro (historic and land trust), Jeff Eldridge (transportation), David Hughes (open space and recreation) and Jordan Latham (natural and cultural resources) will play to their strengths.

            With experience having worked for SRPEDD, helping write Dartmouth’s Master Plan, working with Somerset and on Massachusetts’ first of its kind coastal plan for Scituate, Durfee is keenly aware of the need for community participation. Knowing what a town wants is a prerequisite to making it happen.

            “It’s a great process, it’s very difficult to do, they’re not the easiest plans to write. Public outreach is most important,” Durfee said, stressing the town’s need to understand its own residents’ concerns. “What is your unique perspective?”

            In learning what it can via a survey that remains open through October 11, Rochester can begin to identify big-picture needs and develop strategies to meet them.

            Amidst an all-hands-on-deck feasibility study for a proposed upgrade to its Fire and Police facilities and in a town seeing massive commercial and/or residential projects under construction, along with many solar farms, a struggling cranberry industry and the MBTA’s South Coast Rail project carrying potential ramifications for affordable-housing requirements, Rochester’s interest in launching a Master Plan is more than timely.

            On Tuesday, Rochester announced the first of its Master Plan-related gatherings, a two-hour (from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm) Discovery Workshop. Residents can choose to attend in person on Monday, October 2, at the Senior Center on Dexter Lane or on Tuesday, October 3, via Zoom.

            In the kickoff sessions, residents will learn how and what a municipal Master Plan is, how it works, how it’s developed, its purpose and its abiding function to inform elected officials and administrative staff when confronting large and small-scale needs is in Rochester.

            “It takes at least 15 months to create a Master Plan; it’s a plan that covers anywhere from 10 to 15 years. You really have to revisit it at that time,” said Durfee, noting the effects that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on municipal projects public and private, first where it concerned supply-chain delays but more recently skyrocketing construction costs. “Obviously, you don’t want to see (your Master Plan) sit on the shelf.”

            Under Massachusetts law, a recognized Master Plan will include nine essential components: goals and policies; land use; housing; economic development; natural and cultural resources; open space and recreation; public services and facilities; circulation and transportation; and implementation.

            “All of those things, we’ll dive down deeper into those categories,” said Durfee, noting that the October 2-3 Discovery Workshop sessions constitute the first step, after which the committee will hold subsequent workshops in October and February that break off into various areas before an Open House is held in June to approve a final draft of the plan.

            The two primary ways that the Master Plan, once developed, will influence Rochester are the obvious follow-up strategies of implementation but also the abiding manner that any short or long-term project needs to be informed by and measured for fit with the Master Plan.

            The Master Plan, says Durfee, will help mobilize the town by knowing it has established consensus and should therefore, for instance, seek a grant to fund a project it can develop and then put before voters at a Town Meeting.

            SRPEDD, Durfee’s former employer, serves as a liaison and helps shepherd conversations between the state and 27 Massachusetts municipalities as far west as the Rhode Island border and as far north as Plainville, running along the Route 495 corridor as far southeast as Wareham.

            Since roadway infrastructure got started, regional planning agencies have emerged. SRPEDD assists municipalities with comprehensive and environmental information and think tanks.

            Community involvement will not be limited to the current voting generation.

            “Planning is at the forefront of a community moving forward – not just the residents, but we want the children to participate,” said Durfee, noting that the online survey has been shared with the public schools.

            Residents have been asked to participate in the survey with their children. A 10-year-old today, she explained, will be 20 years old at the age that they inherit what gets decided in this Master Plan.

            “We want to make sure they’re involved,” said Durfee. “Outreach is the one thing you can do. … We want to get it right.”

            The Master Plan survey and related information can be found at: srpedd.org/comprehensive-planning/community-master-plans/rochester-master-plan/.

            For those who consider themselves technology challenged, Durfee said the Plumb Library and the Council on Aging (Senior Center) are solid resources to help guide people through the survey. It takes from 10 to 15 minutes to complete.

            Those with further questions are welcome to call Town Planner Nancy Durfee at the town’s annex building at 508-763-5421 (extension 208.)

Rochester Master Plan

By Mick Colageo

            The Marion Marine Resources Commission hopes soon to be distributing a pamphlet intended to dispel false rumors about funding for the new Maritime Center that the commissioners say persist despite facts on public record.

            “It’s a checks-and-balances thing at Town Meeting, it’s not really from the taxpayers. I still hear people say the harbor uses a lot of our tax dollars. I keep telling them …,” said MRC member Tad Wollenhaupt during Monday night’s public meeting at the Police Station.

            The MRC wants Marion citizens to understand that votes at the October 23 Special Town Meeting supporting the appropriation of $1,200,000 for the construction of the new harbormaster’s operations building will not come from tax dollars but from the Waterways Account, which is supported entirely by harbor-related fees.

            “The funding is already there for the project,” said Marion Interim Harbormaster Adam Murphy. “The grant funding is the real issue for me. I think we’ve spent $300,000; we could be turning back ($1,300,000.)”

            Under Governor Baker, the state-sponsored Seaport Economic Council pledged $1,600,000 in support of the new harbormaster building at Island Wharf, and a Town Meeting vote approved a redesign of the then, $2,000,000 construction project.

            In the past two years as construction costs have skyrocketed, the town has submitted approximately $300,000 in related invoices and receives reimbursement accordingly. Not following through on the project would forfeit the remaining $1,300,000 in SEC grant funding.

            The fact the SEC did not come through with the entire $3,000,000 applied for has, according to Murphy, spawned an assumption that the taxpayers are being asked to make up the difference. He says that is flat-out wrong. The bidding period for construction closes on October 12.

            The MRC knows less about the town’s 17-year-old patrol boat, which is out of the water and being evaluated at Barden’s Boatyard.

            “We’re waiting for a report,” said Murphy, who told the commissioners that cracks in the boat have widened, that a port-side fuel leak is further compromised by the two tanks’ separation from their connections to the boat.

            Even if the cost of fixing that problem is palatable, weighing the value of a probable $200,000 repair is questionable after Murphy was told that he and former Harbormaster Isaac Perry made the patrol boat last five more years than every other known community to own the same model.

            The alternative is a new patrol boat that would cost approximately $720,000, but that figure could increase based on features. A new patrol boat was anticipated with fee increases made earlier this year, as that money would also come from the Waterways Account.

            Murphy and Assistant Harbormaster Dave Wilson are closely studying a 33-foot model that they say the Town of Scituate was able to fund 75% of the cost with a matching grant.

            Murphy said that the chief of police (Richard Nighelli) is trying to get the Port Security Grant sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA.) A new boat would take 18 months to build. Shortening the boat to less than 33 feet would result in the loss of critical storage space for tools and equipment, said Murphy.

            Vice Chairman Greg Houdelette, who presided in lieu of Chairman Vin Malkoski, asked Murphy about a timeline on staffing. Murphy said he expects to learn within the next few weeks what Nighelli decides to do with the harbormaster position. Statewide police reform has led to demanding training time, the elimination of many part-time officers and reorganization of harbor departments.

            Administrative Assistant Lisa MacLean was on hand to answer questions about the Harbormaster’s new database, which is only partway toward function starting with the import of individual mooring information. After that comes dinghy dock, float and kayak information. The data-import process will take months.

            The secure, web-based program features a color-coded moorings map “so that we’re not looking at three of four spreadsheets. … That’s going to be a huge savings in time for us,” said Murphy.

            Each mooring holder will be listed in the right margin of the map page, and from there a town representative or boatyard with user credentials can click on a mooring and check inspection status.

            The other byproduct is the elimination of dormant accounts. Murphy says some outstanding excise tax dates back to 2007. “The people are just gone, they’re not even in the database,” he said. “We’re working with the assessors to get those off the books.” The new system, he says, will flag any action and delinquent account holders will not receive their permits.

            Inspectors will be able to enter notifications on the site. MacLean is telling the inspectors she wants all of the inspections done by the end of the year.

            “Lisa’s working really hard to get this up and running. This program is going to be able to get us to do online payments,” said Murphy.

            While Marion will save over $5,000 in the first year just by switching systems, it also stands to lose $7,000 to $10,000 in late fees that are likely to be avoided with the convenience of online billing.

            Due to the massive amount of data left to upload, Murphy does not expect the system to go live this year.

            In other business, Commissioner Cheryl Souza agreed to serve on the MRC’s Planning subcommittee.

            The next meeting of the Marion Marine Resources Commission is scheduled for Tuesday, October 24, at 7:00 pm.

Marion Marine Resources Commission

By Mick Colageo

            It’s been a decade since Rochester Memorial School began a school year without Derek Medeiros as its principal, but the elementary school has moved on by introducing Heidi Letendre as interim principal for the 2023-24 academic year.

            Letendre had worked at RMS as a student-teacher 30 years ago, so her introduction was part of a festive opening meeting for the Rochester School Committee on August 31. Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson said that since accepting the job, Letendre has been working.

            ORR also introduced a familiar face in the new role of interim director of Student Services as Kris Lincoln, who has worked in all six ORR schools over an almost 20-year period, replaces Craig Davidson. After time in Colorado, Teah Keogh returns to the ORR District as an English Language Learning specialist.

            At RMS, Leigh Beson comes on as a Grade 1 teacher, and Caitlyn Coelho is a new Grade 6 Special Education liaison. Lauren Harper and Bridget Houlihan join RMS as Grade 5 teachers. From the small-world department, Nelson reported that Harper is the neighbor of one of his high school teachers, who assures Nelson that Harper is a very good teacher.

            Alexia Pacheco joins RMS as a Project Grow teacher, and Jacquelyn St. Thomas is the new school psychologist. Erin Sharp is an instructional assistant, and Catherine Staier, a frequent substitute in 2022-23, joins the RMS staff as a Grade 1 teacher.

            Nelson said many schools were dealing this summer with vacancies, but RMS is down to one.

            RMS Paraprofessional Lynne Arruda was recognized for her 25 years of service, and RMS Special Education Secretary Kimberly Amato was recognized for 15 years. “Most of our staff, when they come here they end up staying here, which is what you want,” said Nelson.

            Two RMS staffers changed positions, Tess Hedblom going from Special Education Classroom teacher to Grade 2 teacher and Lea Sims from Lunch aide to instructional assistant.

            Opening Day ceremonies for the district included faculty representatives from all six schools at the high school, and Nelson was enthused to tell the committee about Sippican School Grade 6 student Nia Gonzalez, who delivered an inspirational keynote address to ORR faculty. Nelson called Gonzalez “an incredible leader.”

            In her Chairperson’s Report, Sharon Hartley and committee member Kate Duggan brought to the committee’s attention the fact that Rochester is aligned in the state association of school committees (MASC) with Cape Cod-based school districts (Division 7) rather than Division 3 with fellow Tri-Towns Marion and Mattapoisett and the ORR District as a whole.

            The committee voted to approve an OpenSciEd grant of $4,100 for Grade 5.

            Hartley said the RMS solar-canopy project is still being hashed out. As of the August 31 School Committee meeting, the town’s next step was for the Select Board to consider an amendment to the amount of money in the PILOT account. The electricity rate would presumably lock in for two decades.

            Nelson credited Erin Bednarczyk for her role in helping ORR upgrade its website, and Nelson said the district is working on a phone app.

            Vision 2028, a new five-year plan for the district, will be presented to the Joint School Committee on September 28.

            Dr. Shari Fedorowicz, ORR’s assistant superintendent of Teaching and Learning, addressed the committee, focusing on opening day and the positive atmosphere at RMS, which was a facility well prepared for the beginning of school. Fedorowicz publicly recognized Kim Reed for her effort to make the new teachers feel welcome on the first day.

            Fedorowicz also updated the committee on the literacy program instituted last year.

            During a scheduled School Committee Reorganization vote, Hartley was reelected as chairperson of the committee. Duggan was elected as vice-chairperson for the 2023-24 school year. Melissa Wilcox will continue to serve as secretary.

            Jason Chisholm agreed to continue representing Rochester to the ORR School Committee, but Anne Fernandes indicated her interest so a vote was taken, and Chisholm was voted in by a 4-0 margin with Fernandes abstaining.

            Fernandes will be back on the Superintendents Union #55 half of the Joint School Committee after she, Hartley and Robin Rounseville were unanimously voted to remain Rochester’s representatives on the JSC.

            The committee entered Executive Session to discuss negotiations and to comply with state law, returning only to adjourn.

            The next meeting of the Rochester School Committee is scheduled for Thursday, October 5, at 6:30 pm at Rochester Memorial School.

Rochester School Committee

By Mick Colageo

            There were two dog bites at Washburn Park, and Marion Board of Health members have asked Health Director Lori Desmarais to send out an e-blast warning the public and dog owners to take notice and precautions.

            During the board’s September 7 public meeting, Desmarais said a person riding a bicycle was bit and then a runner was bit. Both incidents happened at the end of August. Desmarais said she is not sure if the same dog was the culprit. The owner of the dog went over to the bike-riding victim, and the victim was not aware that skin was broken so the incident was not immediately reported.

            Desmarais said there have been 10 dog-bites reported to the Marion Board of Health in 2023. The other eight occurred on private property.

            There is no leash law in town, and Desmarais said with rabies vaccinations high, there is a low risk of rabies.

            As long as the dog is owned by a resident and is up-to-date with its rabies vaccination status, there is no need for prophylactic treatments. However, Desmarais said, if someone is bitten by a dog, that person must identify the dog and owner and make sure the animal is rabies-vaccinated. That biting dog must be quarantined for 10 days, according to Desmarais.

            Acknowledging there is no leash law in Marion, board members said it is common for unleashed dogs to be at Washburn Park. Desmarais said she believes that both dogs were not leashed. “The idea of a leash law in Marion would go over like a lead balloon,” Board of Health Chairman Ed Hoffer said.

            Desmarais said, so far, there have been no Eastern Equine Encephalitis cases or West Nile Virus in Marion this year. There has been one human West Nile Virus case from someone in eastern Massachusetts and another human case in Middlesex County. No animal cases have been reported for either disease, but 107 mosquitoes statewide have tested positive for West Nile Virus.

            Desmarais said people should still take precautions such as wearing longer sleeves and pants at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. They should also limit activities around that time.

            Health Agent Shallyn Rodriguez reported that owners of 28 Pitcher Street have made progress on cleaning up the property and the main building. Pest traps have also been replaced. She said there is still a boat, shed and cottage in disrepair and will conduct a reinspection.

            A similar property at 8 Pie Alley will be reinspected, and Rodriguez should have an update at the board’s next meeting.

            The board also discussed its pool regulations. Per the state, if someone has an electronic pool cover that one can walk over, a fence is not required.

            Citing a past drowning, board members said they are happy with the fence regulation. They asked Desmarais to gather more data, including how other communities are handling this regulation.

            The board continued a hearing and approved a variance for a septic tank and leaching field at 25 West Avenue. The applicant moved the proposed system farther from adjacent property lines and will install a denitrification system, which will require an annual inspection.

            The next meeting of the Marion Board of Health is scheduled for Thursday, September 21, at 4:00 pm at the Police Station.

Marion Board of Health

By Jeffrey D. Wagner