Rochester’s Conservation Commission Tuesday approved Notices of Intent allowing the construction of four single-family dwellings on two-acre lots on High Street close to A.D. Makepeace cranberry bogs.

            These are lots 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. Abutters Tuesday night again voiced worries that the housing constructions are too close to the bogs and their properties and will flood adjacent house lots.

            The commissioners, three of whom had inspected the site in person the previous Tuesday, responded by adding to the Order of Conditions for each stating that all measures shall be taken by the applicant to avoid the flooding of neighboring properties when it occurs. “They have to stop it,” Commission chair Christopher Gerrior assured the abutters in attendance. “They have to fix it.”

            The commission also added to all four NOIs the condition that workers onsite shall conduct visual sweeps for endangered turtle species before any construction work starts each day and whenever equipment is to be moved. At first, commission member Ben Bailey said he was not a fan of imposing this requirement in this case. Abutter Eileen Sheehy disagreed. “I see them all the time,” she said. “It’s a big turtle area. You could sweep just the area in between us and them.”

            Gerrior motioned to add these sweeps to the conditions after agreeing with Sheehy, saying ‘little’ sweeps at certain times would be worthwhile and not be onerous.

            Prior to this vote, the commission canceled the Notice of Intent application for the plan to convert a wetlands swamp at 224 North Avenue into a wildlife and aquatic habitat, agricultural drainage area and fire emergency pond. Previously, the applicant, farmer Cody Wood, argued he does not need an NOI or a conservation plan because of the way regulations read on the matter and an opinion from the DEP. On Tuesday, Gerrior reported that Wood has notified the board he plans to work on and submit a Farm Plan that would show his exact proposal for the location. Submitting one had been the commission’s request at the start of the discussion. The board approved withdrawing the application and refund the application fee money.

            In other action, the commission approved reappointing Christopher Gerrior and Michael Gifford as 2025 members.

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

Rochester Conservation Commission

by Michael J. DeCicco

            The Marion Select Board met Tuesday, March 18 to go over ten action items and some various correspondences. Less than twenty minutes into the meeting, 9-out-of-10 of the action items had been discussed and the board moved on to number 10, discussing the draft of the Town Meeting Warrant.

            Before we get to that, the board’s first actions were to approve the minutes of five separate meetings: January 30, February 19, a different special meeting February 19, February 25, and finally a public hearing on March 4. All were approved unanimously without question. Next was the approval of a change of officers at Kittansett Club for Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC).

            The board then discussed an anonymous $800,000 donation from the Marion Library Association doing business with the Elizabeth Tabor Library. The donations are for renovations to the latter. “I’m not going to question an $800,000 donation. I appreciate it very much” Select Board Clerk Randy L. Parker stated with laughter from the room.

            In discussions on the Waterways Regulations, it was reiterated by Chair Norman A. Hills that there will be “no billing changes from last year.” Statements from Harbormaster Adam Murphy were read, where he said regarding discourse around the proposed changes: “I would also like to ensure that residents understand that we will continue to make decisions in a transparent and public manner, ensuring we use public input to inform the decision-making process. With that said, I also want to make it crystal-clear that no public, personal attack of my staff, no matter the role or level of responsibility, is ever appropriate.” He continued, “Personal attacks only enflame this discourse, escalate our emotion, and cloud our ability to make long term and strategic decisions for the town.”

            The next item was the approval of the nominations for the Inspectors of Animals, where Adam Murphy and Susan Connor were confirmed and approved. A few road closures were then approved, including the annual Memorial Day procession Monday, May 27, the annual Independence Day parade on Friday, July 4 and a request for the Marion Art Center to use Bicentennial Park and road closures for “Arts in the Park” on Saturday, July 5.

            The board then approved a $866.03 for a water/sewer commitment for final readings from March 14. Finally, was the presentation and discussion on the draft of the Town Meeting Warrant. During the sorting out of minor but recurring technical difficulties, Executive Assistant to the Town Administrator Donna Hemphill said the Marion Town Party was moved to July 26, though all other party plans remain the same.

            The Town Administrator, Geoffrey Gorman, having sorted out the technical issues, then began the presentation of the 59-page draft. All articles currently in the draft are not placed in their final location, Gorman explained, so all are labeled “Article X” until they can be sorted. The draft begins with an outline of the FY26 budget, but as the budget is not yet complete, a placeholder of FY25’s budget was used. It was also stated the water and sewer enterprises had yet to be finalized, though, Gorman said they would be completed this week to be presented to the Select Board at their next meeting. One article discussed was for the town’s finance department and its payroll system, which Gorman said were manual and through the Munis system. $40,000 is requested to update timekeeping software. The Town Administrator said, “we di timekeeping and payroll manually. Surprisingly enough, the timesheets are paper and are filled out manually and are presented to the payroll benefits person who then has to put it into a spreadsheet and upload it to Munis.”

            Next was the discussion on work throughout Holmes Woods, which saw disagreement within the board. $60,000 is requested to draft plans for the work. Vice-Chair Burr stated, regarding the town’s resources to maintain all current trails, “we are spread thin.” Parker later said, “we should have public meetings on Holmes Woods.”

            On roadwork, Gorman affirmed all monies to cover roadwork comes from Chapter 90, with no local taxes going to the endeavor. He said if the town continues this practice, “our roads will continue to decline.” The Department of Public Works (DPW) seeks $300,000 on top of the existing Chapter 90 funds to improve roadways and sidewalks. The Select Board requested a list-of-importance of roadways in need of renovation and maintenance to be presented at their next meeting.

            $2.2 million in debt service is requested to upgrade the Town House with a fire suppression system, Gorman says the building does not possess, ADA compliance additions like a ramp, doorknobs, brail, and wheelchair accessible bends, and to have the outside stairs be code-complaint, which they currently are not. An HVAC system is also requested.

            At this point in the meeting, Chair Hills emphasized they are not open to questions at this point, but a public hearing will be available at the next meeting. The Town Administrator also said the current draft is not available online, but the final one will be.

            The Historic District Bylaw and the Short-Term Rental Bylaw final drafts were briefly discussed, both of which are currently available to the public. Regarding the Short-Term Rentals Bylaw, Chair hills stated, “I have severe concerns about this whole thing, but we can keep going.”

            The next meeting of the Marion Select Board will take place on Monday, March 24 and will involve further discussions on Town Meeting with the floor open to questions. The annual Town Meeting will be on Monday, May 12.

Marion Select Board

By Sam Bishop

The March 17 meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board was a continuation of meetings with department heads to review all things budget. On this night, they met with Highway Superintendent Garrett Bauer, Health Agent Gail Joseph and Fire Chief Andrew Murray.

            Joseph reported that the public health nurse was requesting administrative assistance due to the avalanche of paperwork and reports she is required to manage. Joseph wondered if a senior tax work-off resident with appropriate skills might be possible to fill the request. The board took that under advisement.

            The line item for recyclable material pick-up is $315,000 and SEMAS is $346,057. There is an overall increase of 1.80-percent Joseph reported. Joseph also noted that cardboard is recyclable as are water bottles (most plastics are not acceptable for recycling.) Rubbish pick-up stands at $404,710.

            Regarding stickers for use at the Transfer Station, there was a discussion about updating that process now with a possible link up with stickers used for beach and parking purposes. Further exploration was generally agreed.

            Murray’s operating budget is $974,560. He said that gear containing PFAS (known carcinogens) must be replaced in the coming months. He is requesting $18,000 for several sets and plans to seek grants for other purchases.

            Bauer said his capital requests include $350,000 from free cash for annual roadway repairs, $1,300,000 for Oakland Street upgrades to be financed via a bond, $75,000 for a roadside mower from free cash, $3,200,000 upgrades to Highway Department Building via debt, and a flatbed aluminum pickup truck bed $25,000.

            In a follow-up with Lorenco he provided the following update. Debt is rolling off in FY27 and FY28.

            Water Department Water Well #2 Refurb $168,100 annually, Village Water Main Replacement $42,025 annually (FY28) Water Tank Rehab $103,200 annually.

            Sewer Department, Sewer Brant Beach $176,146 annually, Sewer Matt River Basin $6,200, annually, Sewer Treatment Plan (UV System) $7,725 annually.

            In FY28 several other large expenses will roll off including Fairhaven water improvement at $11,500 annually.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board was not announced upon adjournment.

Mattapoisett Select Board

By Marilou Newell