Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson delivered an update to the Mattapoisett School Committee on the UMass Boston Collins Center school-consolidation study during Monday night’s committee meeting.

            In summarizing the study’s progress, Nelson told the School Committee that he and Committee Chairperson Carly Lavin took part in facilities tours that also included Town Administrator Mike Lorenco, Capital Planning Committee Chairman Chuck McCullough and ORR Facilities Director Gene Jones.

            Community engagement work has been completed, said Nelson, along with surveys that had been open for several weeks. A major data collection has also been completed, after which ORR administrators followed up with questions for Collins Center representatives.

            Nelson anticipates that the Collins Center will submit a draft report with its findings in February.

            “Once final report is in, we’ll schedule a joint meeting with the Select Board and the Collins Center for final walkthrough and ask questions,” he said.

            The School Committee also heard from Nelson regarding the FY24 operating budget for Mattapoisett Schools. The Budget Subcommittee has drafted a proposed budget addressing regular and special education, technology and facilities.

            Inflation, said Nelson, will drive up the cost of utilities such as electricity and gas, along with tuition increases. The FY24 budget, he said, is designed to meet level services. There are no new positions or programming proposed. The focal point will be on meeting the needs of students in classrooms and ensuring teachers are meeting expectations, particularly in literacy and mathematics.

            In the near future, Nelson said to expect a formal budget hearing, including public discussion, then for the budget to be finalized and put before the committee for its approval before submission to voters at the annual Town Meeting.

            “I believe the Budget Subcommittee has made good progress,” said Nelson, who also noted that the committee is close to submitting its capital plan for FY24 and the 10-year projection.

            In his Financial Report, ORR Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber told the committee that there is now under $600,000 remaining in the FY23 operating budget. Barber said both elementary schools passed inspections. Barber also noted that there are shortages among some food items.

            In her Chairperson’s Report, Lavin told the committee she was “blown away” by the commitment shown by the students during holiday-season concerts. “All the children worked so hard,” she said.

            Nelson also thanked everyone in the Tri-Towns for their participation in celebrations around the holidays. “It’s one of the things that make our schools so special,” he said.

            Director of Student Services Craig Davidson reported new grant funding that will support a math academy to be held during school vacations in February and April. Registration is open; Davidson encouraged those interested to reach out directly to his email or via the Central Office phone. Davidson also reported on a professional-development event scheduled for February 1 at 6:30 pm. The event, he said, includes powerful strategies to help children.

            ORR Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Shari Fedorowicz briefly discussed forward progress with an initiative, including six working group sessions on Tier 2 and 3 interventions. The work, conducted in conjunction with the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), will take place over the next few months.

            January 10 was scheduled as the first full day of work geared toward a literacy, action-plan implementation, and on Friday, January 13, faculty will hear from psychologist and former child therapist and teacher Rob Evans in a session of “plain talk” around educational challenges.

            The fourth Learning Walk was held last week at Rochester Memorial School, as Tri-Town educators exchange visits in a collaborative effort to learn from one another and provide mutual support.

            Fedorowicz also discussed peer-to-peer learning that students in Grades 5-6 and 7-8 engaged in while visiting the Boston Celtics training facility in Brighton.

            Center School Principal Linda Ashley reported on a Parent-Teacher Association event in which third graders enjoyed a class trip to the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra, each classroom spending an hour.

            Citing news that Diana Russo will no longer be available as recording secretary to Mattapoisett School Committee, the committee voted to appoint Melissa Wilcox as the School Committee secretary and added Wilcox to the recording-secretary role alongside Toni Bailey.

            Amanda Hastings was voted to represent the School Committee to the Old Rochester Foundation.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett School Committee is scheduled for Monday, February 27, at 6:30 pm at Center School, and the next meeting of the Joint School Committee will be held on Thursday, January 19, at 6:30 pm at the ORR Junior High School media room. Both meetings will also be remotely accessible via Zoom.

Mattapoisett School Committee

By Mick Colageo

A community outreach meeting held on January 4 to discuss a marijuana retail store moving to Rochester drew no one from the public, but details were updated on the plan for Megan’s Organic Market at the Rochester Crossroads’ mixed-use development at Routes 58 and 28.

            The design of the market seeks to normalize the retail cannabis-buying experience with a typical retail-store configuration, explained company Principal Nick Andrian, who was attending remotely via Zoom as part of the outreach meeting required by the state for applicants for a marijuana retail-sales license.

            The company’s attorney, Jonathan Silverstein, noted the Host Community Agreement that Megan’s recently agreed to with the town is one of the first to be signed after the state’s recent revision of the new regulations legalizing cannabis across the commonwealth.

            The agreement includes the promise that the store will give the town 1% of its gross receipts over and above the 3% of revenues that the state mandates each host community of such businesses should receive. It will also reimburse permit-consulting costs incurred by Rochester and give the town a Community Impact fee, estimated at $100,000.

            Silverstein said the store, a free-standing, 3,000 square-foot building with 20 parking spaces, will require a special permit and site-plan review approval by the Planning Board and eventually, licensing from the state Cannabis Commission.

            In answer to questions from members of the press after the presentation, Ken Steen, developer of the overall Crossroads mixed-use development, said the petitioners would hold a preliminary meeting with the Planning Board in January and present a formal plan in February. Silverstein said the big question is how long the licensing phase will take. That, he said, is still uncertain. Of the overall Crossroads project, Stein said street prep and improvements will probably begin between late spring and early summer.

            “We’re progressing as fast as we can,” Silverstein said.

            Andrian said customers will find that the open concept of the store’s design, wherein the actual product packaging is easily available on display, will be more comfortable than the typical atmosphere of a marijuana dispensary. The company’s typical design is to place the actual products on display, he said. Since Massachusetts does not allow that, the Rochester store will display “dummy packaging” that customers can take to the counter to do the actual ordering.

            Security will be tight, Andrian said. Doors and windows will be alarmed, and garage-door-like, secure barriers will roll down from the inside to close off the windows from intruders at night. There will be security cameras inside and out and security guards during normal operating hours.

            The plan calls for an entrance that will lead to a lobby where a receptionist and a security guard will check customers’ credentials. All visitors will be buzzed in to enter the store itself. The HVAC system will prevent odors. The delivery bays will be enclosed by dark fencing. The store will not allow use of the product on site, nor will it carry disposal “vape” pens.

            Megan’s Organic Market opened its first store in 2013 in the City of San Luis Obispo, California, where its flagship location still sits.

By Michael J. DeCicco

            The Town of Marion is willing to train Evan Lehrer on the job as its new town administrator, so its citizens can realize his enormous potential as the municipality engages pivotal private and public projects, beginning with the former Lockheed Martin property.

            Lehrer, selected in a 2-1 vote over fellow finalists Geoff Gorman and Thomas Guerino on December 5, emerged on the final stage of the interview process due to his experience as Mashpee’s town planner the past five years.

            Peppered with questions in his final interview, Lehrer demonstrated extensive knowledge of Mashpee’s development history, focusing on New Seabury as well as Mashpee Commons with regard to ongoing challenges in those locations that specifically relate to the crucial juncture facing Marion.

            In discussing Cape Cod and south-coast towns, Lehrer identified common concerns such as attaining and affording housing, water, wastewater and growth.

            “You generally end up with two factions, those who are very married to community character, intent on preserving that character, not interested in doing much else,” Lehrer told the Select Board on December 5. “And then there’s the other faction, who is cognizant and recognizes the value that comes with preserving as much seaside, community character as a place like Marion has but understands that, at the same time, growth perspectives need to be positively considered to at least maintain an adequate level of professional services that the taxpayers of this town have come to and expect to receive.”

            As a planner, Lehrer said he comes from the school of new urbanism.

            “I’ve never been a fan of the either-or strategy. I would recommend a form-based approach that allows multi uses,” he said of Lockheed Martin during his December 5 interview. “Predictability goes a long way for the community getting the maximum advantage for a proper development. Providing yourself with opportunities is the best option.”

            Asked about his management style, Lehrer said, “I’m not a micromanager. If you’re looking for a rigid manager, I’m not that. … I don’t like to compel people to do the job one way or another. … People do best when managers trust their skill set to do the job well.”

            After the three finalists for the job were interviewed, the Select Board took a lunch break and reconvened. All three members came away with confidence that the town had viable options.

            “I think Geoff did a good job, I think he’s capable, there’s no question. Tom, we know, could get in the driver’s seat and more especially, if we were in a position where we had to get something done that we couldn’t really handle – probably a great man for the job. Evan? Evan’s a brilliant young man and I liked him a lot, and he would be my vote,” said Select Board Chairman Randy Parker, who was impressed with Lehrer’s instant recollection of times, dates and financial numbers regarding Mashpee-related matters. “There was no hesitation in his response.”

            Parker believes Lehrer undersold his financial experience during the interview process.

            “He didn’t pronounce himself as a financial person, he said he was weak in that objective. However, … a lot of the things that he said were financially obligated. In one way or another, he gathered those people up,” said Parker.

            “Evan has municipal management on his career plate, at least since college and worked very hard building a resume,” said Select Board member Toby Burr. “He’s extremely well spoken, very personable, and seems very easy to work with and for. I would say both Geoff and Evan would be the two I was leaning more heavily towards and probably would have to give the nod to Evan, just because I think the upside potential there is so great.”

            Select Board member Norm Hills cast the lone dissenting vote, preferring Gorman’s experience level.

            “I think just the fact that (Lehrer) showed up in this group (of finalists) was what surprised me. He’s certainly capable, he’s certainly knowledgeable and smart, but I just don’t think he has enough experience that we need at this point, to step in and keep going, whereas I think Geoff can do that,” said Hills.

            “I agree Geoff would be more productive in the first year, but I think beyond the first year, Evan would learn very quickly and in years two, three and four, Evan would outshine Geoff,” said Burr. “I think they both would be good, but I think … the upside potential of Evan is huge. And quite frankly, I’m not sure that we could hold on to either one of them beyond five years.”

            “I would say holding on to Evan will be more difficult,” said Hills.

            Contract negotiations with Lehrer, a 33-year-old Sandwich native and father of three, were not completed by press time. The Marion Select Board scheduled a second executive session for Thursday, January 12, at 5:00 pm.

            Prior to working for Mashpee, Lehrer, a Tabor Academy and Brown University graduate, also worked a year for Central Falls, Rhode Island, and a year for Brookline. He told the Select Board he was not job searching when he learned of the opening in Marion, but the opportunity excites him.

            “Marion is a town that feels a bit like a homecoming for me,” said Lehrer, who graduated from Tabor in 2008. “The memories that I have in Marion are deep and profound, and I’ve always found that I’m most successful working in communities where I have that type of connection.”

            He said his mother is now living with his family and that he is looking for a long-term, sustainable career step.

            “I knew service, government, (non-government organizations), non-profit-related work was going to be the field I was driven towards because I’m a problem solver. I want to identify community problems offer solutions and work with communities on addressing them,” said Lehrer, who holds a master’s degree in Public Administration. His graduate work includes a master plan for a free-trade zone around the international airport in Quito, Ecuador.

            The impending hire of Lehrer harkens back to the 2019 hire of Jay McGrail, also a Sandwich native and first-time town administrator prior to his recent hire as new town manager in Middleborough. McGrail turned out to be a very successful first-time hire, according to numerous stakeholders around Marion.

            Since McGrail’s departure, Finance Director Judy Mooney has been serving Marion as interim town administrator.

            In addition to his job as Mashpee’s town planner, Lehrer has also been functioning unofficially as the town’s primary grant writer. When Gil Hilario was Marion’s town planner, he functioned in a similar capacity that had since been split between McGrail and Town Planner/Conservation Agent Doug Guey-Lee.

            Guerino, a former town administrator in Bourne, and Gorman, a 27-year, retired Navy veteran with several years serving on Mashpee’s School and Finance committees, were interviewed prior to Lehrer on December 5, all three having emerged from a pool of candidates that were interviewed by Marion’s Selection Committee on previous dates.

            Parker, who represented the Select Board as a member of the Selection Committee, noted he interviewed each candidate twice. He expressed hope that Hills would cast in favor of Lehrer so the vote could be unanimous, but Hills, while committing his support to the board’s decision, felt it was important that his preference for Gorman was recorded.

            The process was guided by Bernie Lynch of Plymouth-based Paradigm Associates. Lynch remained involved in the communications process with the finalists following the December 5 vote.

Marion Select Board

By Mick Colageo

The Town of Marion is back to the drawing board in its search for a new town administrator after announcing on January 13 that contract negotiations with candidate Evan Lehrer were unsuccessful.

The announcement also stated that the Select Board is exploring options with Community Paradigm Associates consultant Bernie Lynch.

Primarily because of his planning acumen as Marion faces major, private and public land-development projects, Lehrer was selected on December 5 in a 2-1 Marion Select Board vote over fellow finalists Geoff Gorman and Thomas Guerino.

The Mashpee Enterprise reported that Lehrer has decided to stay at his current job as Mashpee’s town planner.

Lehrer also has business interests in Mashpee. The Enterprise reported on December 21 that the Mashpee’s Select Board voted to move forward in a host agreement with the Sublime Cannabis, a recreational marijuana dispensary of which Lehrer is president and part owner.

No mention of Lehrer’s cannabis business was made during his final interview for the Marion job on December 5.

By Mick Colageo