Rochester’s Conservation Commission Tuesday approved four separate Notices of Intent allowing the construction of single-family dwellings on two-acre lots at 0 High Street that since early November, have drawn the attention of abutters who have raised concerns about its possible effect on flooding and natural resources in their neighborhood.

            The January 7 review of the four lots started with Project Engineer Brian Wallace’s report that the developers are still awaiting word from the Natural Heritage Foundation regarding whether construction will affect endangered species. However, a December 15 letter indicates that the developer could implement a turtle protection plan to satisfy the Foundation’s concerns. These conditions would include a silt fence barrier and daily sweeps for turtles on the property.

            “These are conditions we have to meet to avoid a taking of the land by Natural Heritage,” he said. “But those details will be worked on over time.”

            Three of these applications for single-family dwellings with attached garage on two-acre lots that will utilize pieces of neighboring cranberry bogs had been continued until the developer awaited the Natural Heritage Foundation’s determination. The board had tabled a decision on a fourth lot to give an abutter Jeremy Saccone’s engineer time to review how the construction will affect his client’s flooding problem.

            On Tuesday, Wallace noted that he and Saccone’s engineer have agreed to design changes to the lot next to Saccone’s land that have been implemented. Wallace has rotated the house design away from the low spot, removed the gravel fringe, added roof drainage and added driveway grading at a different detail. “We’ve made those changes and both sides are happy with those changes,” Wallace said.

            Saccone said he still was not satisfied. He said his concern is that this new lot so close to his property will still create a flooding issue for him. “To engineers, it makes sense,” he said. “To this abutter it does not. I’m still going to have to deal with flooding.”

            Wallace responded that he is comfortable the new design will have no more adverse effects on ground water flow than what is there now. Commission Chair Chris Gerrior told Saccone and the other concerned abutters that the board has done everything in its ability to follow the letter of wetlands bylaws and satisfy the High Street abutters. “We have only so much jurisdiction,” Gerrior said. “This is the best plan we could get.”

            Such was Saccone’s level of dissatisfaction that as the board approved the Order of Conditions for this lot, he said he definitely will file an appeal, which would be with the state DEP.

            In other action, the board approved a Certificate of Compliance for the Order of Conditions the panel imposed for the Town of Marion Public Works Department’s plan to build a temporary access path for its North Well. Conservation agent Merilee Kelly said the path was needed to access a well with electrical problems. That problem has been fixed but the town requests being able to use the path for other projects for another year. Even as the board endorsed the compliance certificate, Gerrior noted, “So we will see them in the future.”

            The next Conservation Commission meeting will be January 21, 2025, at 7:00 pm, at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.

Rochester Conservation Commission

By Michael J. DeCicco

Chair John B. Howard, MD and Clerk Edward P. Hoffer, MD of the Marion Board of Health met Thursday, January 2 at the Town House conference room. Septic updates were discussed for 79 Wareham, where it was agreed and voted on that the updates were “clear cut” and did not need to be brought back to the board after their current revision is complete.

            For Chapter 2 housing inspections, a sump pump was not working and there was water I the basement. A correction order was sent to the owner as well as asking to make sure the dehumidifier was plugged in, as it was not. It was also stated Santoro’s Pizza on Route 6 is under new management as of January 1 with inspections planned for January 7.

            Home-administered flu and covid vaccines are currently available as there has been an increase in cases of both this season.

            Since the program was started in August of 2022, the Community EMS visits have increased greatly in number. From August 2022 to December 2022, there were 46 visits, 2023 saw 112 visits, and 2024 saw 314. While many visits are repeats to the same location, 55 different people were serviced last year. Marion is one of sixteen communities in Massachusetts that offers community EMS.

            Due to Plymouth County Mosquito Control not doing any spraying this time of year, it was stated anyone living in the county can request up to 10 tires be picked up per-year from their yards for free. Their website is www.plymouthmosquito.org and they can be contacted at 781-585-5450.

            The meeting was adjourned with a welcome back to Doctor Hoffer from his international medical conference held in Japan.

            The next meeting of the Marion Board of Health will be Thursday, January 16, at 4:30 pm at the Marion Town House Conference Room.

Marion Board of Health

By: Sam Bishop

On January 6, the Mattapoisett Community Preservation Act Committee met for the first one-on-one interviews to be held with organizations and groups who have filed for grant consideration.

            The members in attendance on this night were Michelle Hughes (elected), Margaret DeMello (representing the housing authority), Jim Pierson (elected), Karen Field (Planning Board representative), Bill Hall (recreation Department), and Bob Spooner (representing the Historical Commission). Chairman Chuck McCullough is also an elected member. This group of volunteers manages the CPA grant process including scoring or ranking of applications received to determine if grant money is available and if the grant has met various criterion. As McCullough framed it, “…the town (town meeting), will determine the outcome – our role is to vet the applications.”

            Coming before the committee on this night was Ray Hanks chairman of the newly formed cemetery and monuments committee.

            Hanks was seeking $50,000 for the restoration and preservation of Hammond Cemetery on River Road. He explained and provided visual evidence of the poor and even dangerous condition of the gravestones and surrounding stone wall. Hanks pointed out that the need is immediate and that more and more headstones are lost to the ravishes of time, “…the need is expedient.”

            Drilling down through the documents submitted, Hanks said that an opportunity presented itself in the summer to honor those resting in the cemetery with an event memorializing the soldiers interned at Hammond Cemetery by the Sons of the American Revolution.

            But questions were raised about the possibility of finding other grants possibly at the federal level. It was also raised that CPA grant monies will be tight for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

            In an e-mail sent to all grant applicants by McCullough prior to the commencement of one-on-one interviews he advised, “This year the CPA Committee has been presented with five requests for funds totaling $250,000. The five requests are seeking historical or open space/recreation funds. The fund balances for the historical and open space/recreation CPA categories now total approximately $85,000.

            We do have undesignated funds available to backfill any shortfall of funds in other categories but the committee is very protective of the undesignated funds needing to ensure that we’re able to support emergency situations that may come before the committee. This is a very competitive year for CPA Funds and the committee’s focus will be to sort out the high priority needs from the lower priority wants. It will be important that you be prepared to breakout the priority needs and to be prepared to segment the project, if possible, over a period of years.”

            It was suggested to Hanks that since it appeared the work at rehabilitating the cemetery can’t be completed quickly he might want to break-up the request into pieces that may be easier to manage through completion. The committee spent about an hour discussing Hanks’ immediate and longer range plans for the cemetery. While all appreciated and agreed work was needed funding the full scope in 2025 might prove difficult. Thqt extended discussion between the CPA and the applicant resulted in trimming the request down to $40,000.

            In a follow-up with McCullough, he shared that the CPA committee will ask Hanks for clarification on several key points such as which is more urgent the stonewall or the headstones, in an effort to better assist the applicant and the town during the annual town meeting.

Mattapoisett Community Preservation Act Committee

By Marilou Newell

            Rochester’s Board of Selectmen on Monday approved for the January 27 Special Town Meeting warrant the last two articles that had yet to be reviewed but learned two others involving police station upgrades might be put on hold.

            Town Administrator Cameron Durant said the Capital Planning Committee will recommend shelving temporarily articles one and three, which propose spending $120,000 for new, safer sliding cell room doors at the police station and $175,000 to renovate the station’s second floor to create additional office, meeting, and storage space. Capital Planning board members, he said, visited the station recently to see for themselves the necessity of the funding requests and saw that the need is genuine but still want more review first.

            Meanwhile, the board on Monday threw its support behind Articles 16 and 17, new regulations for Accessory Dwelling Units and a zoning bylaw amendment that deletes Use Variances.

            Durant said the town ADU regulations respond to new state law mandating these dwelling units by right in every Massachusetts city and town. “They are a move to keep the town as characteristically Rochester as possible,” he said, “They are recommended by the Zoning Bylaw Review Committee.”

            Earlier in the meeting, Town Administrator Cameron Durant reported good, money-saving news regarding the Gifford Park Playground construction project. He said a bid challenge was filed against the original successful bidder for the contract to construct the playground. As a result, the Attorney General’s office instructed the town to get an additional bid.

            That winning bid, Durant said, by Creative Recreation, West Hartford, CT, was for $80,000, which is $17,000 less than the first bid award’s amount. Luckily, he added, this new contract was signed by December 31, the deadline for this expense to be supplemented by federal ARPA funds and the new quote will utilize the same brand name equipment. He noted, however, that because the playground site is in the Historic District, the Park Commission will need permissions from the Historical Commission and the Conservation Commission.

            Here, Park Com. chair David Hughes provided the good news. He said his panel has already approached both boards. The company with the winning bid is filling out the building permit now, he said. “I’d like to thank Cameran (Durant), he did one hell of a job helping us,” he said. “I thank the Board of Selectmen too. Now let’s get going and finish this project for the kids of this town.”

            The 3,649 square-foot playground’s full cost will be $81,724.68. While half of that cost is being borne by the local non-profit “Tri-Town For Protecting Children,” the other half is being paid for with the town’s ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds.

            In other action Monday, the board accepted the resignation of Town Planner Nancy Durfee, which had been effective on December 17, 2024. Durant followed this vote by noting hers is one of several positions being posted to fill. He is also posted for a new Town Accountant/Finance Director. He said the person currently in that position, Suzanne Szyndlar, will not be retiring until June 30. But he wants a long lead time to take over those pretty big shoes. He said he would like to have someone Szyndlar can train in April or May. He is also advertising for a new Administrative Assistant for the Highway Department and a new police captain.

            Also, the board announced a public notice that the Mattapoisett Water Treatment Plant will be doing construction work between January 6 and April 30.

            The board announced the winner of the Town Website Photo Contest. He is John Oldham with his photo, “Barn and Fields.” The picture will be posted on the town website and printed in the town’s annual report.

            The board approved the scope of responsibilities and mission statement for the new Rochester Events Committee. The new panel will focus on planning, coordinating and supporting public events that foster a sense of community and celebrate Rochester’s unique character, Durant said. He noted that events sponsored by other town entities will continue to be managed by them, with the Event Committee’s support.

            The board voted to not exercise the town’s right to purchase two lots of Chapter 61A land being converted to non-agricultural on High Street and on High Street near County Road.

            The board did not set its next meeting date before adjournment.