Dr. Ed Hoffer’s circumstantial need to depart early from the March 24 meeting of the Marion Zoning Board of Appeals set off a substantial discussion in part because it foreshadowed his potential permanent departure.

            Hoffer’s bid for a seat on the Select Board would truncate his availability to follow through as a voting member on the Heron Cove case that is expected to see several more continuances of the public hearing he partially sat through on March 24.

            The longstanding proposal of a “friendly 40B” residential development along Route 6 near the Wareham town line is a LIP application and, at the municipal level, is only subject to the vetting of the ZBA. Otherwise, developer Ken Steen only answers to the State of Massachusetts.

            ZBA member Margie Baldwin was altogether absent from the March 24 public hearing so Town Counsel Jon Witten jumped in when discussion continued several minutes in Hoffer’s absence to ensure the ZBA was cognizant of the ramifications of seeing through that night’s public hearing.

            Witten explained that the ZBA can only use the Mullin Rule for one member for one meeting, presumably Baldwin, since there is no apparent threat that she would miss future meetings. The ZBA, he said, is a five-member board with a three-member quorum. Three is the voting requirement for the comprehensive permit sought by Steen.

            Along with Chairperson Cynthia Callow and members Dana Nilson and Will Tifft, two alternate members, Tucker Burr and Danielle Engwert, were also in attendance. Both would be eligible to fill in and vote, but because so many future dates are anticipated to continue the public hearing to pour over many aspects of the 120-unit residential project, Witten wanted to be sure Callow and the board had the opportunity to consider its option to stop the public hearing and continue.

            Mark Bobrowski, Steen’s attorney, told the board that the meeting had not proceeded further enough for him to object to the application of the Mullin Rule to cover future involvement for Baldwin while, at the same time, recognizing the freshly departed Hoffer as present and qualified for future participation involvement.

            Nilson moved that the board discontinue discussion to protect its membership under the precarious conditions of two absent members.

            After it was learned that neither Witten nor peer-review consultant Peter Palmieri are available on April 14, the Heron Cove public hearing was continued to Thursday, April 28, at 6:30 pm. That meeting will take place at least partially in person at the Police station while also being accessible via Zoom.

            As the public hearing was opened, Callow reminded the board that Steen’s project is a “friendly 40B” that has been “very highly” endorsed by the Select Board.

            Bobrowski said peer-review discussion should go before the board’s review of Steen’s waiver requests because the requests will evolve as the project is reshaped according to peer-review requests and further dialogue.

            In introducing Phil Cordeiro of Allen & Major, Steen’s engineering consultant, for a basic presentation of the current state of the proposed project, Callow asked him to address erosion control and subsurface recharge system.

            Palmieri of the Merrill firm provided his peer review to Cordeiro. “We have had a chance to digest it, but we have not had a chance to provide written responses. We will do so,” said Cordeiro. “We believe that everything Peter has laid out in the Merrill report is addressable by us, it requires some additional clarification, some additional plan revision. Nothing that will change the design intent.”

            Cordeiro said nothing in the Merrill peer-review report will change the number of units on the site or its general layout. “We are really dealing with a lot of technical matters on the engineering side.”

            In his opening remarks, Cordeiro acknowledged Palmieri’s issues regarding erosion control and subsurface drainage, along with specifics such as available parking space and earthwork quantities and sought roadway profiles and site lines.

            Steen is proposing stormwater basins on the southwestern sideline of the property, and Palmieri asked for Cordeiro to consider bordering to the outside of the project with additional vegetation. Cordeiro said the initial premise on why that vegetation is not in the plan as presented is because of the substantial buffer provided by natural forest. Nonetheless, he said the applicant would look into the request.

            Strategies Cordeiro presented to the ZBA included erosion-control devices such as a stabilized construction entrance to avoid construction vehicles tracking erosion onto Route 6 — any tracking, Cordeiro said, would be swept up in coordination with the state Department of Transportation. He also said erosion “fiber rolls” would be used on the property’s perimeter. The mulch that Cordeiro said would be used in areas raised above their original height is biodegradable.

            Soil-testing information is being gathered now that weather is allowing the digging of test pits. “Doing it in the springtime will also give us very clear indicators of groundwater situations,” said Cordeiro, all part of the revised package that will be resubmitted to the ZBA.

            One question in Palmieri’s report that Cordeiro said was unresolved is what is planned for roof drainage, limited at the March 24 presentation to roof gutters and downspouts.

            Callow’s question on erosion control focused on who is in charge of it during engineering, construction and post-construction phases.

            “We don’t have a hard answer to that question. I’ll work on the exact (arrangement.)” said Cordeiro. “Typical operations, I could be the person charged with monitoring the installation of erosion control and continued monitoring during the construction process. … Because we are disturbing greater than an acre of land, this project will be required to file a … stormwater-pollution prevention permit.”

            Cordeiro said the responsibility could fall on Allen and Major, Steen or the construction team.

            Callow asked about onsite maintenance of infrastructural. Cordeiro said that attention is required until all paving is completed, grass is growing in and there is at least 70 percent of coverage of any planned vegetation.

            Cordeiro explained that under the LIP program, there are erosion controls around the base of any stockpiles of materials and sometimes cover.

            Asked to address the subsurface recharge system, Cordeiro explained that the construction is mandated by standards to mimic preconstruction standards, meaning they cannot release more water than is being released to the construction. Two types of systems proposed: open-air basins (bathtub) for slow release to targeted areas. Also, recharge chambers will be installed near the multiuse racket-sport courts where the stormwater will recharge.

            Burr asked for a summary of the topography. Cordeiro explained that the water will drain in opposite directions from a central high point on the property, but both sources will wind up in the Weweantic River, one moving more directly than the other.

            The next meeting of the Marion ZBA is scheduled for Thursday, April 11, at 6:30 pm via Zoom.

Marion Zoning Board of Appeals

By Mick Colageo

            On March 24 as the Mattapoisett Finance Committee neared the end of this latest round of FY23 budget reviews, Chairman Pat Donoghue commented that the local schools’ administration (Center and Old Hammondtown Elementary schools) had not provided full disclosure on enrollment numbers and had not taken any steps to trim the annually increasing bottom line.

            “Per pupil costs and teachers’ salaries are high compared to other places, while they’ve lost 25 percent of enrollment,” Donoghue explained. She acknowledged that while some teaching positions have been reduced there, “… has not been a nickel saved.” The FY22 local schools budget is $7,823,908, and FY23 proposed budget is $8,039,560; the figures do not include school debt.

            Donoghue said that other needs in the committee cannot be adequately met given the annual growth of the local schools’ budget and that the town should be “reallocating the resources we have, but every year we give them more … it’s an endless money pit. It’s not fair to the rest of the town.” She went on to say, “Twenty years ago, we made a mistake building out schools … it’s gone too far.”

            Donoghue then specified what she believes the committee needs to move forward in a cooperative manner with the schools’ budget planning ahead of Town Meeting in May to ensure that: 1) Voters are prepared by providing data or full disclosure on expenses and enrollment numbers; and 2) Do not support the FY23 budget as currently presented, should both the Finance Committee and the Select Board choose to withhold support. Donoghue said that the choice is between cutting the schools’ budget or having a Proposition 2.5 override.

            Present for this meeting and on board with Donoghue’s comments were committee members Paul Amoruso, Colby Rottler and Gary Johnson. Also in attendance virtually was member Tom Kelley. Not present for the meeting were members Colleen Trahan and Kevin Geraghty. Town Administrator Mike Lorenco said he shared Donoghue’s concerns.

            Donoghue said that while the FinCom “nickels and dimes” other departments to function with as close to a level budget as possible, the same is not true when it comes to the schools. “We (the taxpayers) supplement OPEB, books, capital needs, health insurance,” she said, alluding to costs that other departments have as budgetary lines. “We have to make noise and be on the same page.”

            Amoruso added his voice saying, “What do they really need? It’s spiraling too high … off the charts. … We won’t be able to pay for it. We have to take control of the budget, get a plan, get people to understand what we can do.”

            Going back to the other needs of the community such as roadway improvements, Council on Aging services and the concerns related to the condition of Town Hall, Donoghue stated, “We have to get in front of Town Meeting and get people thinking about this.” Lorenco said, “We either borrow or override.”

            The committee asked the status of the UMass Boston Collins Center for Public Management study taking place, in part to evaluate municipal building space such as the schools. Lorenco reiterated that the study would not be making recommendations on how to use space but rather what space there is and how it is currently being utilized. Armed with that data, the town could then begin the process of evaluating next steps towards a possible new location for the Town Hall offices.

            Also in attendance was Select Board member Tyler Macallister. Long an advocate for full school-budget disclosure and fiscal planning, Macallister echoed all that had been said. “Speaking strictly for myself, I can’t support this (FY23 local schools’ budget.) We have too much of the total town budget going to one entity. There are budgets that we underserve.”

            Kelley asked what happens if the school budget gets “shot down” at Town Meeting and the prospects of sending a letter to ORR Administration now. Lorenco responded, “Another Town Meeting sometime in the summer for this issue.” He went on to say he agreed that a letter to the school administration asking them to continue working on the local schools’ budget is needed and asking for their cooperation. He said that at Town Meeting someone from the floor could make a motion to approve the budget as presented or send it back for more finetuning. However, he cautioned, “The schools don’t have to accept a levelly-funded budget, that can only happen at Town Meeting.”

            Lorenco said the letter that he intends to draft, then send on for comment to the entire Finance Committee and Select Board before sending on to ORR Administration, would indicate that the two boards request a 0.0-percent increase for FY23 and a formulated plan for cutting expenses.

            The town administrator also stated that the letter would spell out the financial impact from an escalating school budget, a lack of transparency especially regarding school-enrollment numbers, and cost per pupil, which currently stands at $22,000 versus other areas paying $12,000.

            In a follow-up with Select Board member Jodi Bauer, she confirmed to the Wanderer her agreement with Donoghue’s position. Select Board Chairman Jordan Collyer stated in a follow-up, “It is my hope to continue discussions with the superintendent’s office working towards a sustainable budget that can be funded through the years. It’s important to keep dialog open and to find solutions based on need.”

            In response to the Wanderer, ORR District Superintendent of Schools Michael Nelson issued the following statement: “At this time, I am continuing to work with both the school committee’s budget subcommittee and town stakeholders regarding the FY23 school budget proposal. I am confident we can work collaboratively towards a FY23 school budget that meets the needs of all our students.”

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Finance Committee is scheduled for Thursday, March 31, at 6:00 pm.

Mattapoisett Finance Committee

By Marilou Newell

            Departmental budgets were brought before the Rochester Finance Committee on Monday night, and all were voted for approval except the Police budget, which will be addressed with more complete information when the committee next meets in joint session with the Select Board on April 25.

            The committee approved the school budget without debate. So did Marion but not Mattapoisett, a matter still in process.

            The Rochester school budgets review came to the Finance Committee with one change to show the academic student resource package of $33,358 on the Town Meeting warrant as part of Rochester Memorial School budget of $6,637,794. The academic student resource package had been voted under Capital, but being more operational, it was decided to make it a two-year purchase at $33,358 per year.

            FinCom approved the Rochester Memorial School FY23 budget of $6,637,794, Old Rochester Regional School District’s FY23 operating budget of $5,165,848 and town contributions to the respective FY23 budgets of $1,488,292 to Old Colony and $289,698 to Bristol Agricultural High School.

            The RMS and ORR school committees have certified their budgets.

            ORR’s operating budget includes $144,000 in capital for the high school’s $421,000 track rehab project. The three Tri-Towns will contribute based on a five-year student-enrollment formula with Marion paying 29.67 percent, Mattapoisett 36.34 percent and Rochester 34.08 percent.

            Suzanne Szyndlar, attending Monday night’s meeting for the first time in Rochester’s newly created and temporary position of assistant town administrator (to new Town Administrator Glenn Cannon, who was also present) clarified that ORR’s new capital stabilization fund is meant to address small capital needs rather than large ones and that it will take a long time to fund.

            “It is a concern, we don’t want this setting a precedent,” Szyndlar said of the project, calling it an assessment. “If they’re going to do any big renovations, they have to talk about it (with town officials.)”

            The capital stabilization fund will be passed if two out of three towns vote for it at their respective town meetings.

            The Old Colony FY23 budget reflects an increase of 20 Rochester students over FY22.

            In some cases, the committee had to vote to rescind prior approvals due to adjustments that have since been made to departmental budgets.

            The Assessors’ prior FY23 budget of $214,047 was rescinded from a vote taken in February. The committee then voted to approve a new FY23 budget of $214,270.

            Board of Assessors Chairperson Jana Cavanaugh told the Finance Committee the department wants to put $15,000 on the Town Meeting warrant to establish a fund that would be earmarked for future contracted work. Cavanaugh said FY24 will not require the same expense.

            “It’s only because this is a certification year, and we have a huge amount of work to do. I don’t think we could complete it without this money,” she said. “I don’t know if we need the 15, I hope we don’t. … This is necessary.”

            Rochester has a new principal assessor whom Cavanaugh explained would need the assistance mostly for commercial work, some personal property. Current vendor rates are estimated to be over $40 per hour.

            Fincom voted to recommend the $15,000 warrant article for the Assessors to use PK Consulting. Member David Arancio abstained from the vote.

            Highway Surveyor Jeff Eldridge took questions on his FY23 budget of $612,811, a 5 percent increase due mainly to asphalt and equipment repairs.

            Finance Committee Chairman Kris Stoltenberg said that 5 percent “is legitimate,” while Arancio, the chairman of the town’s Capital Planning Committee, said Rochester needs to consider funding the capital improvement stabilization fund in a greater amount so the committee can work on a three to five-year scope.

            “The money’s cheap right now, in a couple of years it’s not going to be cheap, not that money is cheap,” Eldridge.

            Debt service is dropping off, according to Szyndlar, noting that debt is approximately $60,000 this year and next.

            Rochester spent $140,000 for snow removal this year, an increase of the $124,000 spent last year.

            While talking about town vehicles, Eldridge said, “The price of used equipment is through the roof.” Equipment repairs are estimated at $40,000. Eldridge indicated that most parts purchased this year are almost double in price from last year. That goes for oil as well.

            The committee voted to approve an FY23 budget of $140,000 for snow removal and also voted to rescind its prior approval of $75,400 as the FY23 gasoline budget in favor of a new vote that raised that cap to $85,400.

            A new FY23 Town Hall budget figure of $476,733 reflects the inclusion of $20,000 for the hire of two, part-time Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School students to assist Facilities Director Andrew Daniel with projects around town. They will earn minimum wage.

            “Other towns are doing it, Andrew looked into it, and it’s very successful,” said Szyndlar, who said she had run the idea by Town Counsel Blair Bailey.

            Rochester has renovation work ongoing in several municipal locations.

            FinCom voted to approve the 3 percent increase to non-union, employee salaries in Rochester (costs the town $20,000 per percentile.) There will also be an article on the warrant to add a five-year step increase as the town attempts to remain competitive.

            Fincom member Tony Ruocco said the membership should be prepared to explain the increase relative to a percentile higher as well as lower.

            The March 1 vote to support a $369,628 Fire Department budget for FY23 was rescinded by the committee in favor of a new vote to support a $372,128 budget that reflects the addition of a $2,500 stipend for Fire Chief Scott Weigel to assume the duties of Rochester’s Emergency Management director.

            Select Board member Paul Ciaburri, who has been volunteering in that role, is stepping down from the job effective July 1.

            FinCom voted its approval of a $14,135 FY23 budget to continue to support the operationally defunct Marion and Rochester Regional Health District, which only continues to exist to pay Karen Walega’s ongoing health insurance and pension benefits. Walega now works exclusively as a 15-hour-per-week health agent for Rochester.

            Arancio also abstained from the committee’s vote to recommend the Council On Aging’s FY23 budget of $319,236. The COA’s program assistant job, heretofore paid out of a donation fund, is moving to the town budget because the donation was a one-time gift and the job is a perpetual role, thus an $11,337 increase.

            The next meeting of the Rochester Finance Committee is scheduled for Monday, April 25, at 6:00 pm.

Rochester Finance Committee

By Mick Colageo