Rochester’s Library Board of Trustees quickly dispensed with several of its most controversial issues in a stunningly brief meeting on September 28.

            The board started its meeting in a Senior Center room crowded with area residents by adopting the town’s flag policy (rather than adopting its own), wherein the library will only fly the flags of the town, the state, the Federal government and the military and, by implication, not those of special-interest groups such as the LBGTQ Rainbow flag.

            It then reapproved the library’s gift policy, which was first adopted in March 2008. Citing this policy, which states “Acceptance and utilization of donated materials is at the discretion of the library,” the board then made its most impactful decision of the night.

            The board voted to return the Rainbow-flag-lined Little Diverse Library that sits outside Plumb Memorial Library’s front entrance to Tri-Town Against Racism, the community-based group that donated the small mailbox-sized book depository to the town. It is here that the Rainbow flag flew, drawing residents’ complaints that sparked the library to take the flag down.

            Before the Little Library vote was taken, Trustee Chairperson Kelley Medeiros explained the motion to give it back to TTAR was based merely on the fact the town library controls its own grounds and staff and must accept gifts such as the Little Diverse Library only under agreed-to provisions.

            No such provisions were agreed to when a previous library director and trustees board approved the acceptance of the donation in January 2021, Medeiros said. The contents of the little library would not be under the trustee board’s control.

            Medeiros opened discussion on the issue by noting that recently 20 pieces of correspondence received on the issue were in favor of the library, 13 were against, and the grand total of all correspondence received since the issue arose has been 49 in favor of the little library and 18 against. She added, however, that while the board does not support any political agenda, it does have to support its policies.

            Rhonda Baptiste, vice president of Tri-Town Against Racism, protested Mederios’ assertion about the lack of an agreed-to provisioning, noting TTAR followed careful steps and did everything the group was asked to do.

            “TTAR’s steps to approval didn’t comply with our policy,” Medeiros answered.

            “We went through every single step,” TTAR President Alison Noyce said, “every single step.” She said this donation should not be changed just because some people are offended by certain books.

            Medeiros responded that the library should be a safe space for everyone. “This is to follow our policies, our gift policy,” she said.

            Medeiros then cut off public discussion, as several audience members had their hands raised, and she motioned for a vote. The resulting approval to return the library to TTAR was unanimous, but it was met with shouts of “boo” and “shame” from the crowd.

            Next, Medeiros made the crowd equally unhappy by motioning to table indefinitely proposals by Jeffrey Costa and Greg Hardy to install additional little libraries on Plumb library grounds. These proposals, too, passed unanimously. She explained to the crowd that this is merely a way to be fair and consistent with library policy. No provisions/conditions are being proposed for these little libraries either.

            Costa, a Rochester resident and Zoning Board of Appeals associate member, had recently suggested in a letter to the library board that a “little pro-family” (library) and “a little pro-freedom” be constructed next to the “Diversity Library” as a counterpoint to the latter’s messaging.

            After the meeting adjourned, Medeiros emphasized again that the little library is being returned simply because the steps to approve it did not follow policy. As to why she curtailed public discussion on the issue before the vote, she said, “Because it was debated at the last meeting, the public hearing two weeks ago. We have heard it all. It was time to vote.”

            Asked what the group’s next step with Rochester’s little library donation will be, TTAR Marketing Director Jessica DeCicco-Carey frowned and shrugged, saying the group is not really sure what it will do once the little library is returned to them. “We don’t have a decision yet,” she said.

            Noyce said Rochester is now the only one of the three towns in the Tri-Town area to reject a Little Diverse Library. “I’m embarrassed for them,” she said.

Rochester Library Trustees

By Michael J. DeCicco

            The Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission had a special meeting on Tuesday to object to the work of a local developer and to ask for notice as an abutter to the proposed work taking place at the intersection of Mill and Spring Streets.

            MOSAC Chairman John Rockwell referenced a letter he wrote about Sherman Briggs’ potential plans for a residential development at the site. Noting that Briggs had once proposed but withdrew an application for a residential development, Rockwell compared Briggs’ latest application to his former plans and asserted that his most recent plan lacks stormwater drainage and can have an adverse impact on the bike path.

            MOSAC members agreed at Tuesday’s special Zoom meeting that Rockwell’s letter to the Marion Planning Board represents the unanimous position of the commission and that MOSAC should be properly notified as an abutter of the proposed activities on the property.

            “I raised the issue of stormwater drainage, and it did not meet the standards for the Town of Marion. Since that time, the lot has been filled, and instead of being a basin, it is a mound of water accumulating on site and is flowing onto our property,” Rockwell stated. “We can’t accommodate Sherman’s drainage. … We have enough problems dealing with our own water.”

            Rockwell told the commissioners and highlighted in his letter that he shared with The Wanderer that there is not enough data about the area’s existing conditions, no proposed conditions, and no information submitted to determine if the area meets current runoff-control standards or provisions to control water runoff.

            “I have reviewed the application and find that there is no information submitted with it to conclude that a Special Permit can be issued to comply with the bylaw,” said Rockwell, who contends that, since 2020, the area has been filled in a way to promote runoff onto adjacent properties.

            Rockwell and fellow MOSAC members agreed that their commission should be notified sooner of such a development. “The Open Space Acquisition Commission has had no notice of this application. As such, the Commission has not met or deliberated on this matter,” Rockwell wrote in his letter. He asked that all hearings on the matter be postponed until MOSAC can further deliberate.

            The Briggs property is adjacent to the Marion Shared Use Path, which as planned will run west to the Mattapoisett town line and east to Point Road.

            According to a 2019 article in The Wanderer, a May 2018 Town Meeting approved the land for multifamily cluster zoning to provide the town with units attractive to Marion residents looking to downsize to smaller homes.

            The Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission did not schedule its next public meeting upon adjournment.

Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission

By Jeffrey D. Wagner

            On September 22, the Marion Select Board interviewed the three finalists contending to replace retiring Finance Director Judy Mooney, but the members did not arrive at a conclusion.

            They have scheduled a public meeting for Thursday, September 28, at 10:30 am at the Town House meeting room, where it is anticipated they will make a selection and adjourn to enter an executive session that will be held for unrelated purposes.

            One by one, Jack MacDonald, Heather O’Brien and Tom Valadao interviewed with the board, the third phase in a hiring process that began with a screening of applicants followed by the round of interviews with a half dozen or so of the candidates considered more viable for Marion’s present needs.

            None of the three have municipal experience, but all three interviewed well and presented the Select Board with a difficult choice.

            “I was all set to pick one of them, it didn’t work out that way,” said Select Board Chairman Toby Burr while reviewing the interviews. Burr mused at the idea of candidates spending a workday alongside Mooney to be followed by her observations. “Who seems to be most in tune with what you’re doing?” he asked hypothetically.

            “No matter which person we pick, there’s going to be risk involved,” said Town Administrator Geoff Gorman. “I had a clear favorite with the Hiring Committee, and it’s not necessarily the same favorite I would have after (the finalist interviews.)”

            Prior to the finalists’ interviews, Gorman gave the Select Board what he called “a rubric” to guide the process, including suggested questions, a 1-to-5 score card in several categories and a list of prohibited interview questions.

            At that time, Gorman told the members that he reviewed the references and encountered “no shocking results from self-nominated references.” He categorized all the finalists’ references as “glowing reports” and said none were received that said, “Yes, Gorman worked here.” That inspired some laughter as the Select Board embarked on the task of conducting the interviews over three successive, one-hour time slots.

            After the finalist interviews, Burr said an important factor for him is who’s going to be here 10 years from now?

            “We’ve got to let those candidates know that we’re not stalemated but we’ve got a lot to think about,” said Select Board member Randy Parker.

            Gorman said all three finalists left understanding that the board needed more time to digest the interviews and references as individuals before coming back to deliberate and vote.

            The Marion Select Board scheduled a 10:30 am open session on Thursday, September 28, which will precede an enter executive session, the agenda of which calls for strategy to negotiate with the Marion Harbormaster Department, the Marion Police Brotherhood, nonunion staff and prepare for litigation with the Marion Golf Club.

Marion Select Board

By Mick Colageo