The September 15 meeting of the Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals found Chairman Susan Akin and members Tony Tranfaglia, Mike Ward, Bill Cantor and Colby Rottler able to easily approve a Special Permit to Dennis Mahoney and Sons for the construction of a 0.5-megawatt solar array.

            The project is planned for 3 Tinkham Hill Road with 1,500 panels positioned south of an existing, much larger array, one of the first to be constructed in Mattapoisett by Bluewave Solar. That 2013 project is projected to inject $500,000 of payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) to the town.

            This latest solar project, unlike others where land is leased from a property owner, will be owned by Dennis Mahoney and Sons, Inc. Financial arrangements, if any, with the town have not been disclosed but were alluded to by Rich Riccio of Field Engineering, who represented the applicants. Riccio said that the closest solar panel will be nearly 800 feet from any existing home, thus natural screening already in place will make the array difficult to see.

            Riccio covered the stormwater management plans and plans for a driveway into the property.

            The ZBA members were satisfied with the plans as presented but added that construction may not take place on weekends and be restricted on weekdays between the hours of 7:00 am and 5:00 pm. Member Colby Rottler also asked that measures be taken to minimize dust from being released in the air by way of water spray and tire washing. When asked when the project may begin, Riccio said that was unclear at this time, given interconnection with Eversource was stalled and/or pending indefinitely.

            The project was approved. Akin quipped, “We’re getting good at this.”

            Also approved was a Special Permit to Sharon and Tom Brownell, 3 Park Lane, for major exterior renovations, additions and improvements outside a wetlands buffer zone. The project was accepted as presented by David Davignon of Schneider, Davignon & Leone, Inc.

            The next meeting date for the Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals was not scheduled upon adjournment.

Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals

By Marilou Newell

            Even with September’s rain, water remains a serious subject, and the Marion Select Board was eager to hear from Meghan Davis of the Department of Public Works during the board’s September 7 public meeting at the Police Station.

            The news was positive, as Davis’ well rehabilitation project update yielded benchmark information.

            The Mary’s Pond Wellfield is in its final stages of completion. Only minor roof repairs and rough spots on the interior of the aluminum railing remain. The new well pumps will be installed when the new chemical-feed building is ready for start-up.

            The chemical-feed building, which is linked to the East and West wells, is midway through construction with an early-November completion target. Once the chemical-feed building is complete, said Davis, three wells will be up and running. The anticipated timeline for that is January, “pending any major difficulties,” according to Davis. “We haven’t had any so far.”

            The Mary’s Pond wellfield permitted volume is 280,000 gallons per day. East and West wells are permitted at 280,000 and 230,000 respectively. Marion’s total permitted withdrawal is 740,000 gallons per day.

            “Once all our wells come online, it will produce the majority of our water,” said Town Administrator Jay McGrail. “We’ll be utilizing (Mattapoisett River Valley Water District supply) much less, which will help financially.”

            A manufacturing problem with pumps resulted in an order for new pumps that as of the board’s September 7 meeting had arrived but had yet to be installed. Davis clarified for Select Board Chairman Randy Parker that the DPW is waiting to install the replacement pumps so as not to prematurely enact their warranty period. Marion is not liable for what went wrong with the prior delivery.

            Davis, who represents Marion to the MRV, told the Select Board that this summer, Marion has “backed off” from its intake from the MRV Water Supply District from 180-200 gallons per minute to 155 gallons per minute. Meantime, Davis explained, Marion is now relying more on the Perry Hills wells for its water. When Marion’s three wells come online, the DPW will again consider reducing its intake from the MRV. (The MRV serves Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, Marion and to a lesser extent, Rochester.)

            “We’ve seen an overall reduction in pumping (in 2022 relative to 2021,)” said Davis, who attributed people’s postpandemic return to workplaces as a key factor. Select Board member Norm Hills asked if the drought had run the consumption up. Davis said Marion’s water restrictions “helped out quite a bit.”

            Benson Brook water tower has maintained its capacity. Parker confirmed that the tower is billed directly by the MRV.

            “I think the long-term strategy, once we have Mary’s Pond, East/West, all of the well fields and MRV up and running … we don’t rely on one in particular – they all balance each other out so we don’t burn out any of the usage,” said McGrail, citing prior discussion with Davis.

            “I scratch my head and wonder how bad off we were before we started all these projects,” said Parker.

            “All we had was the MRV that’s it,” said McGrail, noting an emergency connection with water-rich Wareham was being pursued at that time. “Once we get all our well fields up and running and everything going, really MRV’s our emergency connection.”

            Regarding the drought, Marion issued water restrictions from June 15 to September 15. If tanks drop below a certain level, then another restriction would be required per the state Department of Environmental Protection, but Davis said levels are nowhere near such a trigger.

            Faced with the option of letting annual mandatory water restrictions expire on September 15 or extend them to the board’s October 7 public meeting, the Select Board voted to wait and reevaluate the situation on October 7. McGrail said the restrictions have not resulted in complaints.

            Davis said the Point Road water tower is out of commission, but Mill Street (Route 6), Great Hill and Benson Brook towers are all at proper levels. The Point Road water tower was taken offline due to roof damage. The aging tank is under consideration for rehabilitation or permanent decommissioning. Parker requested a report from Davis on the status of the Point Road water tower evaluation.

            In his Town Administrator’s Report, McGrail told the Select Board that the town has officially hired Saltonstall Architects to design the new DPW operations center. McGrail said it was a competitive selection process and that Will Saltonstall will offer design options.

            The Building Committee, meantime, will soon conduct site visits of wood, rod-iron and steel and Morton constructions. Visits to the Kittansett Club maintenance facility and the Rochester DPW will be on the tour. The Building Committee will meet again later this month.

            McGrail also shared positive news on the solar project at the Benson Brook landfill. The Eversource interconnection is complete, and the connection to the grid has been approved.

            Construction will cost more than what the bid proposal estimated, so the additional cost will lower lease payments from $140,000 to $100,000 per year. The financial lease cost remains under evaluation. Next steps will see McGrail meet with CVEC and contractor General Electric, and in November, he will present amendments to the agreement for the Select Board’s review.

            Interviews for a third member of the Board of Health will be conducted in joint session with the Board of Health (Dr. John Howard and Dr. Ed Hoffer) during the Select Board’s next meeting on September 27. Alvin Johnson, Mary Nelson and Tina McMichael are up for consideration for the spot vacated earlier this summer by Dot Brown. A joint vote is planned for October 4.

            McGrail is working with Marion Police Chief Richard Nighelli and Sippican School on planning a stronger police presence at the town’s public elementary school. A proposal will be presented to the Marion School Committee at its September 14 public meeting.

            McGrail shared positive reports on three activities fronts: a successful Town Party last month at Silvershell Beach (McGrail publicly thanked Donna Hemphill and the rest of the volunteers); the opening of the Sippican Elementary School playground (McGrail credited ORR Facilities Director Gene Jones) and an immensely successful U.S. Senior Amateur golf championship held August 25 to September 1 at the Kittansett Club.

            Marion is also looking at installing four pickleball courts on the site of the tennis courts no longer in use at the Point Road playground. McGrail is working with Recreation Director Scott Tavares on an application for funding to be made to the Community Preservation Committee.

            Fire Chief Brian Jackvony and Police Chief Richard Nighelli appeared in an appointment to introduce the new Community Emergency Response Team (CERT): Nicole Barros, Donna Hemphill, W. Dale Jones, Douglas Katz, Margaret Malkoski, Vin Malkoski, Lawrence Robert, Lauren Roberts and Helen Westergard. Absent were: Eileen Molloy, Maria Rowley and Jeannie Sheets.

            FEMA training led to all volunteers on the team passing a final exam, setting up a graduation. Marion has recently gone to the national CERT concept that allows participation from community members of different backgrounds and skillsets. Nighelli publicly thanked EMT/MMA graduate Jack Mills and Marion Police Department Administrative Specialist Lauren Roberts.

            Under Action Items, the Select Board voted to approve several proposals including authorizing DPW Director Nathaniel Munafo to act on the town’s behalf for the MassDEP DWSRF Lead Service Line (LSL) Inventories loan application. MassDEP will fund the inventory program of $20,000,000 in 100 percent refundable loans. Marion must submit its inventory to the state by October 16, 2024. McGrail said the town does not believe there are any lead water lines in Marion but is required by the state to conduct the inventory.

            Also on the list: a two-week, motor-home permit for Sheila Mitchell at 507 Delano Road; the declaration of September 10 as National Suicide Prevention Day and September as National Suicide Prevention Month in Plymouth County; a Memorandum of Understanding outlining the Sippican Historical Society’s donation of a new HVAC system for the Music Hall and McGrail thanked the Historical Society for its benevolence.

            Several events were approved, including the Marion Art Center’s request for street closures for its annual Halloween parade on Monday, October 31, from 4:00 pm to conclusion; a one-day liquor license to the Marion Social Club, 44 Pumping Station Road for its Ham & Bean Supper scheduled for October 15 from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm and street closures from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm for the annual Christmas Stroll on Sunday, December 11. Parker thanked Eiv Strand and his team for “keeping this going.”

            The board also voted to approve the following appointments: Matt Shultz to full membership with the Conservation Commission (Marc Bellanger has resigned), alternate member Wendy Bidstrup to full voting membership with the Cultural Council and several other applications and recommendations to boards and committees. The board also approved McGrail’s revisions to the town’s Memorial Policy.

            The board voted to approve a $612.12 water/sewer credit (final readings August 8), along with water/sewer commitments of $612.12 (August 9), $520.55 (August 9) and $546.46 (August 18) and an agreement with a private homeowner at 50 Oakdale Avenue to build a water main to town standards and to be turned over to the town at completion.

            The next meeting of the Marion Select Board is scheduled for Tuesday, September 27, at 5:00 pm at the Police Station.

Marion Select Board

By Mick Colageo

The Rochester Planning Board Tuesday night approved the waivers required for the owners of the “Arch at the Meadow” performance and event venue to change their layout.

            Owners Glenn L. Lawrence and Laurie Whitney-Lawrence wish simply to move their driveway to their home lot, instead of its current location, in order to straddle the business and home lots.

            But even that required the Planning panel to waive the need to address four town regulations in order for the Lawrences to move forward with their proposal: stormwater-protection regulations, the bylaw section on landscaping regulations and the rules for parking and lighting.

            Before motioning to approve the section on parking, Planning Board Chairman Arnold Johnson said a condition needs to be included that will ensure the petitioner will return to the board if ever he or she plans to pave any surface there.

            Before motioning endorsement of the lighting section waiver, Johnson said further lighting plans would also have to come before the board for approval. He then noted the project’s final draft approval would be ready for the board’s next meeting on September 27.

            The Planning Board also endorsed the Buzzards Bay Coalition’s progress on its project on Marion Road. The panel approved the Notice of Work permit to clear street trees there as part of the coalition’s Scenic Roadway permit application, after the coalition representative reported the agency had both removed and replanted trees there.

            The Planning Board recently complained that around two years ago, the coalition had cut trees on 55 acres that it owned on Marion Road without allowing the board to review the project details. What has been done since on the property now owned by Elliot Farms, LLC is an improvement, board member Michael Murphy admitted at the time. “But documentation to us is still needed,” he said.

            Next, the board voted to conduct a site visit of the Clearway Energy Corporation solar project at 453 Rounseville Road because of construction-work progress. They will meet at the site on Tuesday, October 4, at 4:30 pm.

            The next meeting of the Rochester Planning Board is scheduled for Tuesday, September 27, at 7:00 pm at Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School library and by Zoom.

Rochester Planning Board

By Michael J. DeCicco