Attending the May 10 Marion School Committee meeting remotely from Camp Burgess in Sandwich where she was with a Grade 6 field trip, Sippican Elementary School Principal Marla Sirois reported the kids were “having a fantastic time,” noting the noise in the background of her call.

            May brought that time of year when the end of school seemed near, even if it remained several weeks away.

            Sirois reported that the sixth graders had engaged that day in ropes courses and team-building exercises with a “night hike” scheduled for after the dinner they were enjoying while their principal zoomed into School Committee.

            The Marion School Committee voted to accept two grants related to literacy: a $152,000 Accelerating Literacy Learning through High Quality Instructional Materials Grant to support Sippican Elementary with 50% funding toward core instructional materials for literacy for Grades K-6 and a $5,076 Early Literacy Universal Screening Grant to purchase the DESE-approved Early Literacy Screening Assessment DIBELS 8th Edition for Grades K-3. The funding would also provide professional development for teachers.

            Chairperson April Nye and other members of the committee thanked Assistant Superintendent of Schools Dr. Shari Fedorowicz for her work in procuring the “highly competitive” grants from the state.

            Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson pointed out that the state only offered a total of $1,000,000 in grant funding for the program statewide.

            “For districts like ours, competitive grants can oftentimes be very difficult because of the criteria that the Department of (Education) often outlines for those who would be given priority,” said Nelson. “Sometimes, based on success and the type of communities that we work on behalf of, we don’t meet those priority lists.

            “This type of financial support to move in the direction and support the work that we committed to system wide allows us really to accelerate where I think we’re going to be going in literacy in the next three to five years. Just a great jumpstart in Year One of this work …”

            “We still don’t know all the choices (of programming),” explained Fedorowicz, who is still waiting for guidance from DESE on pricing details.

            Fedorowicz said the new literacy program is moving quickly with its leadership teams involving administrators and faculty. All three of the Tri-Towns’ educators will meet with program representatives together before the end of the school year.

            Per state regulations, the committee held an annual public hearing to address its status as a School Choice district. In recent years, Marion has voted not to participate in the School Choice program.

            The School Choice public hearing was opened and without response from the committee or the public to the latter’s invitation for comments was closed. The vote was just as decisive, as the four committee members, April Nye, Mary Beauregard, Nichole Daniel and Nichole Nye McGaffey, all voted for Marion to remain a non-School Choice District.

            This means that students who reside in other school districts (towns) will not be allowed to attend Sippican Elementary via the state’s School Choice program in 2023-24.

            The committee voted to accept the memorandum of understanding between Nelson and Marion Chief of Police Richard Nighelli regarding the school resource officer for next school year.

            In her Chairperson’s Report, April Nye celebrated the Town Meeting vote and police budget paving the way for an SRO at Sippican in 2023-24.

            “As many of you know, when I initially ran for School Committee over five years ago, my goal was to make our schools as safe as they could possibly be through various measures, and one of them was my want of an SRO,” said Nye. “Through the years, working with administration as well as the superintendent’s office as well as the town, we’ve been able to improve on various security measures. Again, one of my biggest goals still was to continue to fight for and get that SRO if we possibly could.”

            With that, Nye thanked the committee members for “always putting what’s best for children as well as the staff and the school community as the number-one priority.” She added public thanks to Sirois, Crisafulli, Nelson, Nighelli, Marion Town Administrator Geoff Gorman and parents for reaching out to the committee and to Marion voters at large for supporting the school children.

            Upon the recommendation of the Old Rochester Regional School District as read by Nelson, the Marion School Committee unanimously voted to adopt the following schedule for 2023-24 meetings: September 14, October 19, November 30, January 4, February 8, March 14, April 25 and May 23.

            Nelson clarified the new approach targeting Thursday as the night for school-committee and major-subcommittee meetings across the ORR District. April Nye thanked secretary Melissa Wilcox for constructing the schedule, calling it “phenomenal” especially as members try to juggle family-related obligations.

            Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber reported with budgetary, facilities and food-service updates.

            Citing skyrocketing costs and other needs in the Tri-Towns, Nelson admitted he had been nervous about the FY24 budgeting process but said meaningful conversations about education with other stakeholders helped get the students what they will need for the next year. He thanked the educators for their steadfast focus as the current school year winds down.

            April Nye thanked Craig Davidson, the director of Student Services, for his acceleration camp.

            Nelson updated the committee that SMEC is looking to purchase a building.

            Early in the meeting, the committee broke into executive session to discuss collective bargaining and security and to comply with related laws and federal grant-in-aid requirements. The committee returned to public session.

            The recognition presentation on the May 10 agenda was held until the committee’s next meeting.

            The next meeting of the Marion School Committee is scheduled for Wednesday, June 14, at Sippican School, and the next meeting of the Joint School Committee is scheduled for Monday, June 8, at the Old Rochester Regional Junior High School media room. Both meetings start at 6:30 pm.

Marion School Committee

By Mick Colageo

            Mike Huguenin, president of the Mattapoisett Land Trust, came before the Mattapoisett Select Board on May 23 to discuss and receive the support of the board for two unrelated initiatives.

            The first was to discuss and approve conservation restrictions primarily for property recently acquired by the town and by other entities such as the Mattapoisett Water and Sewer Department for the purpose of protecting the Mattapoisett River Valley aquifer. Those properties are: Lopriore/Defelice Parcel, Red Brick Farm on Long Plain Road and Long Plain Forest. The total estimated acreage is 250.

            Questions from the audience arose regarding what will become of some parcels such as the Winterbottom Farm and the Red Brick Farm when the current farmers withdraw. Alan Decker assured all the farming will continue if farmers can be found to continue operation. He also said that the current tenants living in the red brick house have expressed a desire to continue their tenancy. Decker said they will be given a one-year lease.

            The town supported the purchase of the agricultural lands with a CPA grant in the amount of $85,000 at the Annual Town Meeting held on May 8. The board signed the conservation documents, sealing their support.

            Huguenin also discussed with the board an opportunity to apply for a grant from Coastal Zone Management. He explained that the grant would be used to design culvert options and other marshland remediation plans for Molly’s Cove. He shared a four-year report produced by the Buzzards Bay Coalition that shows the decline of the marshlands as a vital part of the ecosystem due to poor water quality from inadequate tidal flushing. The cove is traversed by Mattapoisett Neck Road.

            The grant application, if awarded, could bring much-needed dollars to a project that has long been identified as needing attention – culvert repair. A study done in 2021 by the Woods Hole Group also identified as problematic not only the cove’s poor water quality but also the roadway’s resiliency to climate change and rising water levels.

            Town Administrator Mike Lorenco reminded the board that there is money set aside for grants that require matching funds. Huguenin believed, although no grant match is required by CZM, it was prudent to demonstrate the town’s sincerity. He said that generally a match is 25% of the grant total, in this case $20,000 against a grant of $100,000. He went on to say that the MLT was willing to commit half of the match, or $10,000, if the town was willing to contribute the other $10,000. The board moved to allocate $10,000, thus lending the town’s support.

            Earlier in the proceedings, the board moved to establish an ad hoc commission to oversee town-owned cemetery maintenance, the placement and management of memorial bricks and benches and signage throughout the community.

            Ray Hanks of Wreathes across America talked about placing wreaths on veteran graves throughout Mattapoisett in both private and municipally owned cemeteries. Select Board member Jordan Collyer said the town has no jurisdiction over privately owned cemeteries and suggested reaching out to them directly. Wreathes across America is a national volunteer group that seeks to place a memorial wreath on veterans’ graves every December.

            The board also met with Kimberly Ray, president of the Lions Club, to discuss changes to the upcoming annual fundraiser Harbor Days. The Lions sought and received permission to hold a children’s painting session and to reposition a food truck for better customer traffic flow. The vendor craft booths will be open on July 15 and 16.

            On Monday, June 12, at 11:00 am, Phase 1b of the Mattapoisett Bike Path will be officially opened with Representative William Straus and members of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation in attendance, along with local prime movers to the project. It was observed by the board that the designated day and time for the planned ribbon cutting was likely to be inconvenient for working people and children. It was determined that another celebration may be planned to allow for greater community participation.

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

Mattapoisett Select Board

By Marilou Newell

            Molly’s Cove is traversed by Mattapoisett Neck Road with a culvert that is in dire need of improvement. The area has been studied for some time by the Buzzards Bay Coalition and in 2021 by the Woods Hole Group which developed several options for the roadway in a future world where overtopping and flooding become the norm.

            Now came Mattapoisett Land Trust president Mike Huguenin with something he hoped would be good news to the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission during Monday night’s public meeting.

            Huguenin said that grant funding might be available from the USDA as well as from Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management. He explained that the goal would be to receive enough funding to complete a 25% design, the percentage generally needed before grant agencies will accept applications.

            A CZM grant in the amount of $75,000 had been received by the town in 2021 when the first Woods Hole Group study was conducted. In that study, it was determined that if nothing was done to the culvert area, there was still hope that by removing invasive species coupled with the introduction of salt-tolerant plants, the water-quality health of Molly’s Cove may improve.

            Other options included roadway elevations with the maximum being 7.5 feet for the greatest resiliency. In that scenario, however, slopes would be impacted and would need engineering attention. Further noted in the study was the need to up-size the culvert itself for better water movement.

            Huguenin asked for the commission’s support in the form of a letter that would be part of the grant-application packet. The commissioners were in agreement that they would support the efforts of the MLT.

            In other business, the Reservation Golf Club received a Negative Box 5 determination of applicability for the installation of a new sprinkler system.

            A Notice of Intent filed by Joe Crespi for a new septic system at 4 Dyar Road received an Order of Conditions, as did a NOI filed by Michael Saunders, 10 Beach Road, for the demolition of an existing, single-family home partially located in a mapped, FEMA flood zone.

            A NOI filed by Earl Miranda, 28 Meadowbrook Lane, for the construction of a garage received conditioning that includes cleanup of miscellaneous materials from the yard prior to construction.

            A long discussion was held with Nathan Collins of Next Grid Solar, landowners and operators of the solar array located at 139 Bowman Road. The site had been called by Conservation Agent Brandon Faneuf and Commissioner David Lawrence as “the worst” solar field they have ever seen. It was noted to Next Grid that the site had not been stabilized, tree planting had failed to take root and that areas where grass was to have been sown were not sufficiently prepared, including the spreading of loam.

            A pending property sale of contiguous lots previously owned by Next Grid but now held by Long Built Homes was in play. Next Grid sought a Certificate of Compliance for the two lots so the sale could be finalized – the commission wanted commitments that the solar array would be properly stabilized. In the end, both parties agreed to site improvement and a partial Certificate of Compliance.

            The commission also moved forward with the issuance of an Enforcement Order that Collins agreed to as it contained next steps towards achieving full compliance.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission is scheduled for Monday, June 12, at 6:30 pm.

Mattapoisett Conservation Commission

By Marilou Newell

            Laurence and Janet Reinhart received an Order of Conditions at the May 10 Marion Conservation Commission meeting, allowing the applicants to add new bay windows and a new door, landing and stairs, along with installation of a new masonry patio, removal and installation of a retaining wall, removal and replacement of an existing concrete boat ramp, and plans to regrade, loam and seed lawn areas at their 13 East Avenue property.

            The order was conditioned with the placement of hay bales or silt fencing.

            During the public hearing, Representative Rick Charon reviewed a history of applications at the site dating back to 2004. A current Chapter 91 license held by the applicant would require further review, but Charon told the commission its approval was the first step.

            Commissioner Shaun Walsh identified proposed work seaward of mean high water as “the principle concern” of the commission.

            Asked for comment, Conservation Agent Doug Guey-Lee stated that his concerns with the project were met and that he would write a decision addressing the commissioners’ Chapter 91 license question.

            The commission voted the Town of Marion Department of Public Works a Negative Box 2 and Box 3 Determination of Applicability, approving plans to install approximately 40 feet of granite safety-barrier berm 18-inches thick at Old Landing Wharf off Front Street.

            Jody Dickerson, director of operations for the DPW, explained the project for the horseshoe-shaped boundary at the south pier. “In the past years, cars have gone off the edge there into the water, so it’s more of a safety issue for us and the town,” he said.

            The granite being used for the project was formerly used for the steps to the Spring Street entrance to the Town House prior to its recent renovation. Dickerson said all the work would be done on the pavement side of the edge.

            William Washburn was voted a Negative Box 2 Determination of Applicability, approving his plan to place fill within land subject to coastal storm flowage at Washburn Lane.

            Represented by Brian Grady of G.A.F. Engineering, Washburn is looking to fill the site that is situated partially within the 100-year flood zone. Conservation Commission approval, said Grady, is the first step in a process that will necessitate FEMA approval. Following commission approval, Grady said the plan is to get FEMA to remove the site from the flood zone for the future construction of a home.

            Roger Tenglin sought clarification on an Order of Conditions issued him on April 12 and will be allowed to use concrete from his construction site as fill under his new driveway at 88 Indian Cove Road.

            The commission also voted Claire Beiver a full Certificate of Compliance for work done at 44 Oakland Avenue.

            The next meeting of the Marion Conservation Commission is scheduled for Wednesday, May 24, at 7:00 pm at the Police Station.

Marion Conservation Commission

By Mick Colageo