For a comprehensive tally on Town Meeting results, see the end of this article.

            Marion held its annual Town Meeting on Monday night. On the docket for the direct democracy vote were 43 Articles and two Special Articles. Beginning promptly at 6:00 pm, Moderator Brad Gordon began with an introduction before turning it over to Select Board Vice-Chair John Hoagland.

            The vice chair moved to vote on the Town Meeting’s articles. Article 1 was passed with only one nay vote. It increased pay of various town officials, including Select Board members. Hoagland stated the last increase in pay was 14 years ago. Article 2 was the approval of the FY27 Town Operating Budget, with Hoagland reading through each department’s budgetary expenditure. It was unanimously passed. The Select Board members each got a chance presenting articles for vote, with Article 3 through Article 13 passing in short order with unanimous votes of approval. Article 14 was passed with one nay, followed by Article 15, which passed with three nay votes.

            Next was Article 16, which regarded Gateway Health. Money is owed due to an issue with the original insurance broker. Old Rochester Regional School Committee member April Nye answered a flurry of questions, saying the committee voted to transfer into Mayflower Health, “we were lucky to land into Mayflower.” Nye stated legal action is being considered. Select Board Chair Randy Parker said, “we’re ahead of this, but it’s going to cost money unfortunately.” ORR Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson said, “the district is pursuing all legal means,” adding any recouped funds would go back to the town. The article passed with four nays.

            After the unanimous vote to pass Article 17, the opening of a Special Town Meeting was held, with Articles S1 and S2 quickly passing before progressing back to the regular Town Meeting. Article S1 handled costs with the removal of record snow, and S2 was for the transfer of remaining FY26 costs.

            Quickly, Articles 18 through 21 were passed unanimously. Article 22 handled surplus money left over from the construction of the new Department of Public Works building. Resident, Assessor, and Select Board candidate TJ Walker questioned the article, asking where the remainder of excess funds were. Town Administrator Geoffrey Gorman stated some funds had already been allocated. “The objection isn’t about the action items. It’s about process,” Walker responded. Planning Board Chair Andrew Daniel jumped in, saying “wants” in expenditure were not frivolous. The article passed with one nay.

            Chair of the Community Preservation Committee Will Tifft read off the next articles, with Articles 23-30 passing quickly. Article 31 handled the addition of language to Chapter 109 Animal Control of the Code of Marion. There was a vote to strike a section. There was then a successful vote to cut off debate levied and passed. There were 53 votes for and 63 votes against the motion to strike an article. It passed with five nays.

            Nearing the end of the meeting, Articles 32-39 were passed in rapid succession. Article 40 was a yearly article that handles the Select Board’s authority to lease town land. There was concern over giving the Select Board the right to lease park land, with notably Island Wharf and parking entering discussion. The town’s legal counsel argued against worry, saying the article has been voted on continuously at Town Meeting for “probably decades.” He also added that, though the board already has this authority, it does not expand any powers and said it is a way to increase transparency and “let voters understand.” Resident Bill Washburn said, “I’m filling in for Chris. Move the question.” Debate was halted, and the article passed with fivenays.

            Article 41 was passed unanimously, and Article 42, being the Town Election Ballot, didn’t require a vote or motion.

            Finally, Article 43: the Citizens Petition by Daniel, who spoke on the process begun at the Special Fall Town Meeting Last year, saying studies still need to be completed for the town to fully understand the ramifications and costs of its passage. The town has completed the water study, not the sewer study, per Daniel. He cited new housing developments that will bring in money in sewer fees, thus alleviating town worries. He recommended another postponement to this fall that would allow the sewer study to be completed, though, qualifying his remarks, “we need to not postpone this indefinitely.”

            Daniel added, “I think more work needs to be done. I think we need to find a better way.” He moved to “pass over” until the Fall Town Meeting. His motion was passed unanimously.

Marion Town Meeting

By Sam Bishop

            The first motion of the Mattapoisett 2026 Spring Town Meeting came from the moderator, Liz Anne Campbell, who asked the voters to declare her decisions on whether or not a simple majority or a two-thirds majority had been decisively achieved, versus declaring the actual hand count or, motion to allow the moderator to call the vote. Her request was swiftly moved with no comments from the people.

            The evening found nearly all articles moved with little articulated pushback or questioning until nearly the end and Article 27, Cottage Cluster housing was announced.

            The Mattapoisett Planning Board labored for over a year drafting the proposed new bylaw that would have seen a new type of residential construction along the Route 6 corridor. Public hearings were held, and debate and comments were welcomed during a series of public hearings held by the board as it worked through myriad issues including new zoning setbacks, possible architectural styles and whether or not this housing option would be accepted or wanted by the community. The community said “no.”

            Stepping up to the podium to speak most vocally against the addition of this new bylaw was Donald Fleming, who said that the board failed to provide sufficient details necessary to make an informed decision. He believed that the board had not held enough hearings, and that voters did not know what the vote meant, and that it didn’t meet the looming question, “what about affordable housing?”

            Planning Board member and proponent of the new bylaw, William Wennerberg, defended the board, pointing out that the new bylaw was studied thoroughly. He said it was a way for people to downsize and stay in Mattapoisett by owning a small, manageable lot, presumably for less than a conventional housing lot.

            Wennerberg said the new bylaw in question was not intended to be counted toward affordable housing as mandated by state regulations. He said it was simply giving people another option for living in the town. He said it was not intended to replace affordable housing.

            Speaking on behalf of affordable housing was Liz DeCarlo, who said she has long held there is a need for affordable housing in Mattapoisett, which currently has less than 2% falling into the affordable category (the state’s prescribed target for towns is 10%). DeCarlo asked that the matter be tabled to a later date to give the community more time to gather information.

            Article 26 ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) Bylaw reinforced the state mandated by-right regulations and did not solicit much in the way of questions or concerns, with the exception of Board of Health member Michelle Bernier asking for and receiving additional language to Article 26 that would bolster existing Board of Health regulations for ADU construction.

            A brief overview of the town’s financial profile was given by Finance Committee member Colby Rottler, in which he pointed to the town’s robust financial standing and how the Capital Plan is achieved. Article 13 asked the voters for $1,754,000 in capital expenses covering requests from the Police and Fire departments, elementary schools, and Highway Department.

            Article 14 requested $725,000 for the relining of the Pine Island watermain. Article 15 listed various projects requiring funding such as Fire and Police Department maintenance ($31,000 for Fire Station and $75,000 for Police building), Harbormaster building upgrades ($20,000,) America Celebrates 250 Celebration ($7,500), Main Street TIP project ($175,000), and Highway Department building ongoing renovations ($215,000).

            The voters also welcomed the opportunity to support veterans by passing the Hero Act that will grant veterans greater exemptions starting in Fiscal Year 2027. A full list of all articles passed is available at Mattapoisett.gov.

            Mattapoisett 2026 Spring Town Meeting Results:

Articles 1-26: Passed
Article 27: Failed
Articles 28-29: Passed

Mattapoisett Spring Town Meeting

By Marilou Newell

            The Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals on April 30 finished work on two continued hearings and said goodbye to retiring long-time member Richard Cutler.

            The meeting began by accepting the withdrawal of a Variance Petition to allow a shortened front setback for a new home construction at 28 Marion Road. At the board’s previous meeting, property owner and engineer Nelson Bernardo had said he needed to be allowed a 34-foot setback rather than the required 40-foot setback because he inadvertently built his house foundation too close to setback lines. On April 30, the board accepted his request to withdraw this application. Board member and neighbor Keith Riquinha elaborated that Bernardo has tweaked his design of the steps to make his plan work without the need for a variance.
            Next, the board granted a Special Permit to allow a kennel license for up to 15 dogs at 19 County Road. Property owner Anita Milka’s plan is for a kennel behind the house she is building there to breed and sell small breed dogs, Bernedoodles and Aussiedoodles. The lack of an adequate plot plan and a question of whether it had been advertised correctly had continued this hearing from the last meeting. Both points were satisfied on April 30. Chair Donald Spirlet said the panel now has the proposal’s certified plot plan. Administrator Andreia Lacerda said she has learned the hearing, in fact, was advertised correctly. The Special Permit motion included the condition that the kennel be placed, centered on Lot 1 of the large parcels.

            The board ended by sharing their thoughts on Cutler’s retirement after 40 years as a ZBA member. “He’s like been around here forever, and he’s always given us good and correct guidance,” Spirlet said. “I liked that I can rely on someone like Richard Cutler to give us the best guidance possible.”

            “His counsel to us was always of high value,” fellow veteran board member Davis Sullivan said. “And he came up with a lot of good ways to settle the matters before us.”

            “He didn’t know this, but he was one of my greatest mentors,” Jeffrey Costa said. “I once wrote a list of the men I admire, and he’s on it.”

            “I greatly respect what he has done for this town,” Riquinha added.

            “He was like a walking encyclopedia for us,” Dennis McCarthy added. “His knowledge was very admirable and valuable.”

            Cutler’s retirement is effective April 30.

            The next meeting of the Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals will be held on Thursday, May 14 at 7:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.

Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals

By Michael J. DeCicco