The committee charged with examining how to combine, replace or rehab Rochester’s Police and Fire stations to alleviate cramped quarters needs expert help to take its planning to the next step.

            Public Safety Building Committee Chairman Arnold Johnson told Rochester’s Select Board Monday, “We need some direction, some professional help in some capacity to whittle down the options. Other than that, I don’t see us gaining ground on this project otherwise.”

            The Select Board said the next step should include finding how other towns with public-safety building projects under their belt, such as Mattapoisett, have organized their planning process.

            The favored option that evolved from a feasibility study completed late last year was to renovate and expand the 26 Dexter Lane Police Station, build a new Fire Station headquarters at 65 Pine Street or on Mendell Road and further down the timeline, build a fire substation on High Street, where a quicker emergency response will be needed when a proposed, 60-unit, senior-housing development is built off Routes 28 and 58.

            With both “hard” and “soft” construction costs and associated costs included, project consultant Ted Gallant said at the time that the two-site plan would cost roughly $32,000,000, and the sub-station plan would bump that cost up to $35,000,000.

            Johnson told the Select Board Monday that this study presented options that would prove too costly for the town to afford. Johnson said his committee was looking at the option of acquiring a prefabricated building to bring costs down to closer to $10,000,000, but the firm that created the study is not interested in helping with that type of construction plan, he added.

            “We need some direction, some professional assistance who knows state mandates and fire codes,” Johnson said. Maybe a professional fire engineer who’s retired.”

            Select Board member Adam Murphy said what has to be done first is reuniting members of the disbanded Feasibility Study Committee in a meeting with people from Mattapoisett (where a new Fire Station opened in the fall of 2021). “Get that group back together,” Murphy said. Johnson said he would set up that meeting right after the Memorial Day holiday.

            Murphy explained that without this expert help at this stage of the process, “we’d have to go out to bid to fully design it.”

            In other action, the board approved member Brad Morse’s motion to put on a Fall Town Meeting warrant an article to change the town clerk position from elected to appointed. A move to change the town clerk to a position appointed by the Select Board failed under a loud “no” vote at the 2023 Annual Town Meeting. It was known at the time that Paul Dawson was retiring from the job; Margorie Barrows was elected last year.

            Interim Town Administrator Suzanne Szyndlar announced the Council on Aging has received two new vehicles, a mini-van and a 12-passenger vehicle through a $95,000 matching grant award. The town’s share of that grant, $39,000, was appropriated at last year’s Town Meeting, she said.

            The board approved the contract with Iron Horse Structures to install two new salt sheds at the Department of Public Works’ Ryder Road property.

            The board approved granting Szyndlar authority to sign day-to-day documents and grant awards.

            Paul Meunier of Boxberry Lane asked the Select Board’s help securing guest passes to Marion’s town beach. He said not being to access these passes has been a hardship for his daughter, who visits with her two children yet cannot find beach parking. Board members responded they are negotiating with Marion to resolve this problem that other Rochester residents also have had. Murphy explained Rochester has rights to Marion water but not the beaches.

            The Rochester Select Board did not set a future meeting date upon adjournment.

Rochester Select Board

By Michael J. DeCicco

The rearranged Marion Select Board assured 159 Spring Street residents Matt and Jen Christopher that they will be heard, but new chairman Norm Hills insisted the Christophers’ complaint over their water bill be thoroughly fleshed out with representatives from the Department of Public Works on hand and only after he has had ample time to digest the documents presented the board.

            Tuesday night’s meeting of the Marion Select Board still entertained some discussion after member Randy Parker requested that the Christophers state their case on the basis that hearing from them in person will help the board members interpret the documents they will be pouring over until Town Administrator Geoff Gorman is able to arrange a meeting.

            The DPW is recommending the Select Board not honor the Water/Sewer Abatement request of $9,122.34, a four-year bill, primarily because the homeowner did not respond to the DPW’s contact efforts.

            Matt Christopher insisted, based on the mathematics involved, that the billing goes back 18 years on an estimated basis and is wholly inaccurate as to what he should be charged.

            Gorman explained that the system rounded up and down to the nearest hundred. All sides agree that given the new metering equipment, current usage is being accurately measured.

            Jen Christopher said they are “asking for a fair resolution and a fair number.”

            The Select Board did act to disapprove another Water/Sewer Abatement request of $600 coming from 71 Olde Knoll Road. The bill was not recommended by DPW and was attributed to high use without a cause.

            Water/Sewer commitments were approved for $759.65 (final readings May 8), $10,450 April 25 new water and sewer service and $125 sewer reconnection April 12.

            The Marion DPW has been contacted by the Wareham water commissioner to discuss a potential interconnection of the two towns’ water systems, the purpose being to allow Wareham to maintain its current permit (draw level). Such a connection does not necessarily imply a physical connection of the neighboring systems.

            Hills pointed out that Marion’s wells in Rochester, though down for years, are scheduled to soon be up and running. He suggested the town have engineering firm Tata & Howard evaluate the situation and let Marion officials know where the town now stands.

            Parker referenced a situation that had town officials seriously considering a tie-in to Wareham water on an emergency basis after the line in the Sippican River ruptured and drained the water tower.

            Marion had intended to have its rehabilitated wells online by now, but there were problems with the well pumps that have since been replaced.

            Given the prospects for wells online and with the Mattapoisett River Valley Water District as a fallback, Marion officials are wondering if any water connection with Wareham is necessary.

            Marion Finance Director Heather O’Brien explained during a presentation on FY25 water and sewer rates that service and supplies will include an electric increase with three wells coming on line.

            Projected revenue will include $300,000 lost from the departure of Lockheed Martin. In what has been characterized as a “very wet year,” O’Brien said the town is trying to carry a surplus of $100,000.

            The rate adjustment for water will be 1.5% on a rate charge, 1.5% on the first and second tier of usage and a 3% increase on the third tier.

            The Select Board approved O’Brien’s report.

            The board re-organized with Hills back serving as the chairman, Toby Burr as vice chairman and Parker as clerk. Hills will continue representing the board to the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) as a member for 2024-25 and also as member of SRPEDD’s Joint Transportation Planning Group.

            Parker publicly thanked Burr for his year as chairman, sparking applause at the meeting. Gorman, in turn, congratulated Parker on his re-election to another three-year term on the Select Board. “We need more voting,” said Parker, who was not happy with Marion’s turnout of fewer than 900 voters for the May 17 Town Election.

            A DiMinimus Determination regarding the Shared Use Path is no impact according to the Select Board, meaning that the construction project will not threaten wildlife. There are several parcels in Washburn Park with easements that the board believes will enhance the recreational benefits in the park.

            The public hearing for Verizon New England, Inc. and NStar (dba Eversource) for a South Street pole installation that had been scheduled for Tuesday night was continued to June 18 at 6:15 pm in the Police Department conference room.

            A donation of $1,085.40 in art supplies from the Friends of Marion Recreation to the Marion Recreation Department was earmarked for the Silvershell summer program and approved by the board.

            The board also approved adding Sunday hours from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm to Vinodivino’s existing alcohol license at its 154 Front Street package store.

            Three Special One-Day Alcohol licenses were approved for events at the Music Hall: Blackstone Caterers June 13 (6:00 pm to 7:30 pm … 80 guests, full bar); Emery’s Catering June 16 (4:45 pm to 10:30 pm … wedding June 16 beer, wine and liquor), and ICJ Corporation June 29 (4:00 pm to 11:00 pm … 75 people, full bar).

            The board determined after a second read that a proposal for a Music Hall fee increase needs more tweaking with a third read.

            In his Town Administrator’s Report, Gorman recognized Jody Dickerson of the Marion Highway Department and Marion’s DPW staff in a presentation of the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) Award for the department’s work on the County Road pavement project. It was one of 10 such awards across the state. The Marion DPW saved the town between $63,000 and $65,000 on berm work.

            Gorman recapped the Annual Town Meeting, thanking the volunteers and noted that voters approved all financial articles. Gorman told the board he is standing by for procurement regarding the Bird Island project, the DPW construction, the new patrol boat, and CPC projects.

            Gorman thanked the DPW staff for its work on the landscaping surrounding the Police Station.

            Memorial Day observances will begin at 9:00 am at the Music Hall with a procession and ceremonies at Old Landing.

            Independence Day parade marching applications are available on the town website and at the Town House.

            The Fireworks Committee still needs to raise “two or three thousand” to hold the event planned for July 6; the committee has until June 16 to call off the event and recover all expenses.

            Gorman publicly welcomed what he dubbed the town’s “rockstar team” of Meghan Mosher and Emily Miller, Marion’s new grant administrator.

            The board voted to schedule monthly meetings through the summer on the third Tuesday of the month. The Select Board summer schedule is June 18, July 16 and August 20, with meetings shifting to the Police Station.

            The next meeting of the Marion Select Board will occur at the Annual Town Meeting to be held on Tuesday, June 4, at 6:00 pm at the Town House Annex building.

Marion Select Board

By Mick Colageo

The May 20 meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission found the commissioners unanimously voting to lift an Enforcement Order issued against restoration work taking place at The Bogs, a property of the Buzzards Bay Coalition.

            After winter storms flooded the project area, resulting in stormwater pouring away from the site into neighboring properties, the commission found it necessary to issue an Enforcement Order that included not only ramping up erosion controls but evaluating whether or not leaching of agricultural chemicals of a hazardous nature onto adjoining parcels had taken place.

            The BBC, along with Mattapoisett Conservation Agent Brandon Faneuf, met at the site weekly thereafter, monitoring conditions while all parties waited for a decision from the Select Board on whether or not the town would require further action in the form of chemical testing. Several commission members expressed concern over the movement of chemicals from flowing stormwater and sought to require third-party testing.

            At Tuesday’s meeting, it was confirmed that testing would be required.

            Conservation Commission Chairman Mike King stated, “…everything is now complete at The Bogs,” and that, “…the Select Board is in agreement with the (Buzzards Bay) Coalition for independent testing.” The Enforcement Order was lifted.

            In other business, the commission issued a Negative Determination ruling to Timothy and Carolyn Kelley, 2 Windwood Way, to demolish and reconstruct a shed.

            A Notice of Intent filed by Mark Whalen, Birchwood Street, was conditioned contingent on approval from the Board of Health on septic plans. Abutters articulated their concerns over proposed plans for a new home on elevated pilings, but King clarified the commission was only evaluating the project plans as they relate to the Wetlands Protection Act and furthermore was not involved with the aesthetic design of any future building. King told the audience that they had 10 days to appeal the commission’s decision.

            Certificates of Compliance were issued to: David Evans, 4 Sagamore Road; Jay Dupont, 12 Old Mattapoisett Neck Road and Alice McGrath trustee, 0 Cove Street.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission is scheduled for Monday, June 10, at 6:30 pm.

Mattapoisett Conservation Commission

By Marilou Newell