What do you get when a think tank invites a dollars-and-cents committee chairman to meet and discuss the future of a town? A marriage of necessity.

            On February 2, the Mattapoisett Master Plan Committee met with Chuck McCullough to hear about the work performed by a committee whose primary focus is plotting when and how town departments will fund expenses over $10,000 and project needs 10 years into the future.

            McCullough explained that in previous budget planning cycles the Capital Planning Committee accepted departmental fiscal information in less than an investigatory manner, asking questions including how a project would be funded but not necessarily scrutinizing the request itself as to how and why.

            The Master Plan Committee was informed about the Capital Planning Committee’s work in identifying infrastructural needs such as culvert replacements, roadway improvements and putting the bike path on Mattapoisett’s 10-year Capital Plan, something that had not been done in prior cycles, leaving the town vulnerable in terms of inadequate planning for major expenses. Now, McCullough explained, the fiscal responsibilities of each municipal department are being aided by more compelling conversations.

            McCullough also spent time explaining how decisions are made for new water and sewer lines and upcoming projects such as the replacement of the Eel Pond sewer line to Fairhaven.

            The Master Plan Committee members asked probing questions to better understand the implications of expanding sewer capacity, noting that sewer lines are not provided for the development of subdivision tracts. McCullough, who has been a town consultant to the Water and Sewer Department for a number of years, discussed the process of engaging neighbors, especially those in beach areas, when considering sewer-expansion projects geared towards decreasing nitrogen leaching into the bay from private septic systems. He said that a two-thirds vote from both the property owners and town meeting is needed before such major projects, funded exclusively from betterment fees, could take place.

            But the biggest take-away from the discussion with McCullough was the absolute need to identify major projects on the horizon for Mattapoisett and how they will be funded. For example, he said that the bike path should be considered as a major infrastructure project, one that is under the purview of a town department such as the Highway Department. But that is currently not the case – the bike path does not tie directly to any town department.

            “It hasn’t been on our radar,” said McCullough. “We view the bike path as another road; there will be repairs and maintenance. We ask, ‘who owns this?’ It can’t be (owned by) a committee, it has to be a town department.”

            The discussion was wide ranging, moving into such areas as the need for a new town hall, what will become of the retired fire station building, climate resiliency and drainage issues.

             In concluding the conversation, McCullough agreed that there is a “marriage” between the two committees and a need for the Master Plan to reflect what Capital Planning is seeing in the 10-year planning forecast. He said he would provide a fully executed plan in the coming weeks, as Capital Planning prepares to meet with the Finance Committee ahead of a meeting with the Select Board and Town Administrator – all steps towards achieving a FY23 budget to bring to voters at the Spring Town Meeting.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Master Plan is scheduled for Wednesday, March 2, at 7:00 pm.

Mattapoisett Master Plan Committee

By Marilou Newell

            It is without a doubt the budget-planning season. Engaging in the process of drafting a multimillion dollar municipal budget is no small task and requires both insight and foresight. Jumping into the deep end of the fiscal pool on February 3, Mattapoisett’s Finance Committee met with Library Director Jennifer Jones and Council on Aging Director Jackie Coucci.

            Jones discussed the need to fill a part-time position for a children’s librarian/assistant director and planned to begin interviews next week. Jones’ spreadsheet lists wages for full-time library paralegals in FY22 at $141,538 and for FY23 at $145,000. Part-time staff will have received $195,769 in FY22 and are projected to receive $201,000 in FY23. The director’s salary for FY22 was $72,000 and is projected at $74,909 for FY23.

            In her narrative, Jones said that during FY22, the demand for library services has remained high, including presentation and talks offered both live and virtually, reaching some 1,300 participants. She also noted that boiler and fire-suppression, system-maintenance agreements have risen by $500 from $12,500 to $13,000. Jones also stated that the historic parts of the library roof covered with 100-year-old slates need evaluation.

            Coucci spoke to the continuing demand for services offered by the COA. She said that in spite of being down an outreach worker, the center is assisting more than 300 people, including in-home visits, “and the myriad of issues people are facing is growing,” she added.

            Coucci reported that a grant in 2020 allowed the department to purchase a new van that is wheelchair accessible and that a matching-grant requirement of 20 percent has been waived. “We got the van scot-free,” she said.

            When asked by Chairman Pat Donoghue if COA vehicles went through Capital Planning, Town Administrator Mike Lorenco explained that because COA vehicles do not hit the tax levy (usually recycled vehicles from other departments,) they don’t show up as a capital expense.

            Coucci’s spreadsheet listed her salary for FY23 at $63,869, up $1,275 from $62,594 in FY22. Full-time staffing wages for FY22 were $43,136 versus a plan for $44,000 in FY23; part-time FY22 will be $49,945 and FY23 is planned at $50,935; drivers will come in for FY22 at $19,140 with a modest uptick to $19,523 for FY23.

            Vehicle maintenance is estimated to remain the same year over year at $4,000.

            Meeting on February 6 were both the Capital Planning Committee with Police Chief Jason King and the Select Board with the directors of the Library and the Council on Aging.

            In a follow up with Capital Planning Committee Chairman Chuck McCullough, he said that the committee was impressed by the presentation from King, calling it “refreshing” in both the quality and quantity of data provided.

            King’s Capital Planning requests for FY23 presently include two cruisers, both listed at $55,000 with one financed via free cash and the other from the department’s operating budget. Other line items for FY23 include $110,000 for parking lot repaving, $25,000 for new office equipment, $50,000 for a new radio system, $40,000 for new tasers and $25,000 for a new police motorcycle.

            Regarding the motorcycle, McCullough reported that King noted the age and diminishing life span of the current motorcycle that he plans to trade in for a potential $6,000 that would be put toward funding for the new piece.

            In their working session with Coucci and Jones, the Select Board reviewed their FY23 budget projections and touched on capital needs.

            As they had during the meeting with the Finance Committee, both directors pointed to a level-funded FY23 budget with modest upticks in wages as negotiated through contracts.

            Coucci said that with the temporary hiatus of the FISH medical ride program, the COA has been filling the gap. Also filling the gap, Coucci herself has been in the field providing in-home services due to a vacant outreach-worker position. When asked by Mattapoisett Select Board Chairman Jordan Collyer if the board could grant her two wishes for her department, Coucci responded, “Nothing, I’m good. I don’t need any additional funding at this time.”

            Jones responded to the same question with more books and more office supplies on her wish list. She also discussed the need for better outdoor light, more security cameras and the filling of an open position for a children’s librarian/assistant director. On that point, she said she is actively interviewing candidates.

            Regarding the need to study the historic roof tiles, Collyer asked Lorenco to find reports that were previously produced speaking to the issue. “Those tiles may be 100 years old but may not need replacement. He gave Jones several company names from which to seek out guidance in the matter.

            The board also met with Henri Renauld, Superintendent of the Water and Sewer Department.

Renauld discussed major renovation projects, including one at the Oakland Street pump station. He described the deterioration of five manholes and the need for immediate action. The cost estimate has been set at $680,000 in FY23.

            Regarding the department’s plans for a new headquarters building situated adjacent to the Bay Club off Industrial Drive, Renauld said that while the sale of property owned by the town on Church Street would be moving forward, conceptual and schematic designs were yet to be drawn. “I’m not quite ready yet,” he said. The board and Renauld also discussed the sale of lots in the Bay Club that are presently owned by the town, lots that could be sold to offset new building costs for the Water and Sewer Department. Debut of this capital expense is planned for FY24.

            The Water Department’s FY23 budget is estimated at $1,600,000 and the Sewer Department at $1,900,000.

            Highway Surveyor Garret Bauer also met with the Select Board, and Select Board member Jodi Bauer, mother of the younger Bauer, asked Collyer if she should recuse herself. While it was agreed that no conflict of interest would manifest itself during this meeting, the senior Bauer elected to err on the side of caution and listened without participating.

            In a follow-up with Collyer, it was learned that discussion about the much-delayed repairs and renovations to the town’s Highway Barn located on Mendell Road took place. Collyer and Jodi Bauer concurred that earlier cost estimates for phased repairs were no longer feasible and that the plan now was to complete everything needed in one complete project.

            On the Highway Department’s Capital Plan spreadsheet, Garret Bauer listed $230,000 for building design and engineering work, $250,000 (an annual sum allocated for roadway repairs,) and a hook/lift truck at $160,000 for a total of $640,000 for FY23.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Finance Committee is scheduled for Thursday, February 10, at 4:30 pm.; the next meeting of the Capital Planning Committee is scheduled for Monday, February 14, at 6:00 pm. and the next meeting of the Select Board is scheduled for Tuesday, February 15, at 6:30 pm.

Mattapoisett Finance Committee, Capital Planning Committee, Select Board

By Marilou Newell

In his final meeting as chairman, Dr. Ed Hoffer told the Marion Board of Health that only a month ago Massachusetts was seeing 22,000 Covid cases per day. By the beginning of February, that number had dwindled to approximately 5,000.

            Hoffer intends to remain on the board as clerk during his announced run for a seat on the Select Board. He also serves on the Zoning Board of Appeals. In a reorganization of the board on February 3, Dot Brown volunteered to serve as chairperson, and Dr. John Howard will serve as vice chair.

            The Covid positivity rate in Marion was at 11.21 percent in January as 380 people tested positive, estimated by Public Health Director/Nurse Lori Desmarais to be an all-time town high. Three days into February, the count was at 11.

            In her update to the board, Desmarais said that Marion has had 1,088 total positive cases. As of the board’s February 3 meeting, there were 55 active cases, down from 185 in the prior week.

            As of February 2, Sippican Elementary School had two personnel in the test-and-stay program, no one in quarantine but six positive tests in isolation. There have been 132 positives at Sippican since the start of the 2021-22 academic year.

            At Old Rochester Regional Junior High School, one person was in test-and-stay, no one was in quarantine but six were positive and in isolation. As of February 2, the ORRJH total for the 2021-22 academic year was 93.

            At ORRHS, no one was in test-and-stay or quarantine and only one positive test in isolation. Since the start of the 2021-22 academic year, there have been 208 positive tests.

            Desmarais said that ORR Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson told her that the state agencies have moved on to a different testing strategy. Effective February 7, test-and-stay and contact tracing will no longer be practiced but replaced by at-home antigen (rapid) testing. Symptomatic testing will remain part of the ORR School District strategy.

            Tabor Academy has had 153 positive Covid tests since the start of school.

            On February 1, the Town of Marion received antigen tests, and a drive-up distribution to residents was scheduled for Monday.

            The Board of Health voted to approve the FY23 Health Department budget as presented by Desmarais.

            While telling the board that the annual budget figure is the same as FY22, Desmarais noted some tweaks. She increased the budget to pay for training and certifications for herself and Health Agent Ana Wimmer, along with funds to contract a registered sanitarian and for soil-evaluation services. Compensatory cuts will come out of travel, among other areas.

            “I also decreased a little bit in the health services because we do have a revolving fund. We’ve been using some of that money to pay for the some of the clinics. The staff, they’re helping out with that,” said Desmarais.

            In her January report to the board, Wimmer said the department held one perc test and one food inspection.

            Along with updates on ongoing septic projects, Wimmer noted two new septic applications received in the final week of January at 91A Allen’s Point Road and at 498B Point Road and two new plans during the first week of February at the Edwards Bridge Road subdivision and Deer Run No. 4. All are in “a state of waiting” according to Wimmer.

            Wimmer reported on correspondence with Congressman Keating’s office regarding 514 Front Street, where the occupant received a 30-day order to correct on January 10.

            “There seems to be a little bit of a discrepancy between what I’m hearing from the occupant and what I’m hearing from the management company and,” said Wimmer, who told the board that the management company says it is trying to address the violations but is hitting some roadblocks. “Obviously, I don’t know either super well so I don’t know who’s telling the truth, and we’ll see what happens next week.

            Wimmer said she accompanied Animal Control Officer Sue Connor on a visit to 464 Front Street. The visit revealed no violations of the housing code indoors, but Wimmer said safety issues outside needed attention including broken glass strewn about on the lawn.

            With “several children living in the house,” Wimmer gave the occupant 30 days to repair that situation. Cats were found in two trailers on the property, and Wimmer described it as an environment where pests and rodents can get in.

            Hoffer said the property has been a sore spot in the community for years.

            The next meeting of the Marion Board of Health is scheduled for Thursday, February 17, at 4:00 pm.

Marion Board of Health

By Mick Colageo

            The Marion Zoning Board of Appeals got its first look at the revised plan for Heron Cove Estates during the board’s January 27 public meeting.

            Increased from 96 to 120 units, this iteration of Ken Steen’s proposed 40B, Local Initiative Program (LIP,) affordable housing project on Route 6 at the Weweantic River is the product of negotiations with the Marion Select Board, the conditions of which are binding as the ZBA goes through what is expected to be a lengthy vetting process. Without an extension, the board would have 180 days to keep the public hearing open.

            In explaining the agreement to the ZBA members, Town Counsel Jon Witten made clear that while the Select Board’s conditions are binding to its endorsement in accordance with Section CMR-4500, the ZBA will ultimately decide whether to approve the project.

            Armed with the coveted project-eligibility letter from the state Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD,) Steen was on hand (virtually via Zoom) with his representatives, attorney Mark Bobrowski and design engineer Phil Cordeiro, to present a fresh, new application for the board’s consideration.

            In highlighting major changes to what Steen described as “a rental community” (residents will not be homeowners,) Cordeiro compared before and after illustrations shared via his computer screen. The addition of 24 units occurs closest to Route 6, where a previous plan for a subdivision of single-family homes on either side of the boulevard entrance has been scrapped. A tennis/pickleball court has been added on the property’s perimeter, along with two areas to absorb stormwater runoff due to the increase in impervious square footage.

            Once ZBA Chair Cynthia Callow opened the floor to the ZBA members, a variety of subjects was addressed such as procedural guidance on dealing with waiver requests (Will Tifft.)

            Witten recommended addressing and voting on each waiver individually but also recommended holding off on deliberating waiver requests – there are 27 – until the ZBA hears back from peer review.

            Member Margie Baldwin asked what the thinking is behind the 24-unit increase.

            “In negotiations with the Select Board, the applicant was asked to take on some obligations with regards to the municipal sewage system. The 120 units are better suited for our end of the bargain,” explained Bobrowski, who further noted that under 40B rules and regulations, the affordable units are spread about the property, one for every three market-rate units. “They are not segregated in any particular area. … It’s very important under the Massachusetts Housing Program, DHCD’s Local Initiative Project (LIP) and the rules of the Housing Appeals Committee that no segregation of the affordable units take place.”

            The project consists of 12 three-bedroom units (10 percent of the total, a 40B design requirement according to Bobrowski) situated among 38 triplex buildings otherwise containing 102 two-bedroom units. There are also three duplex buildings containing six two-bedroom units. The roads will remain private.

            The displayed site plan appeared to show 40 garages that Cordeiro described as amenities. “It wouldn’t be an amenity if everybody had one,” he said.

            Nilson asked if the developer has learned from Eversource what upgrades are necessary regarding electric and gas.

            “In terms of Eversource electric, adequate power is available along Route 6 from what we were told a little over a year ago, maybe even longer than that,” said Steen. “There is actually no gas that services this area so we are contemplating as to whether or not we’re going to go with propane heat or we’re going to go with electric, high-efficiency heat pumps, which is somewhat the rage these days in terms of green building and emissions.”

            There will be no natural gas so the project will be heated by electric heat pumps and/or propane.

            Steen said there is no connection between heat pumps and solar. “I can tell you we wouldn’t be looking at solar in any way, shape or form at this point, that’s for darn sure,” he said.

            Because of several board members’ lack of familiarity with the project history, peer review was discussed in some detail.

            ZBA member Dana Nilson asked if the board has received the money it would pay out to peer-review consultants. Steen has an escrow account with the Town of Marion to which he planned to deposit $6,500 on January 28 in order to achieve a $10,000 balance. Steen has other money ($61,000) in the account that has been allocated to water-and-sewer studies, including supplemental studies taken up by the Select Board as part of the LIP agreement between the two parties.

            After Nilson suggested the board take “a serious amount of time” to get the best possible resources for peer review, Bobrowski insisted that the ZBA had already received peer-review funds for the 96-unit application (since withdrawn in favor of the 120-unit application) and hired Andover-based Vanasse & Associates Inc. for a traffic study, Merrill Associates for civil engineering and used the Marion Department of Public Works to examine stormwater.

            “Those (studies) are largely done and just need to be updated so I’m urging the board to be respectful of the process that’s already taken place,” said Bobrowski. “I’m not hearing any complaints from any member about the job they did. The bills were paid, and that speaks for itself. If you need to go elsewhere for something like architectural or another discipline that hasn’t spoken in yet, feel free. We’ll work with you to make whatever accommodation we can, but please be mindful of the fact that this work is 96/120th’s done.”

            The board eventually voted to retain Vanasse (traffic) and Merrill (civil) as peer-review consultants, and Bobrowski and Witten agreed it would work best to focus the meetings inasmuch as possible and interview peer-review consultants in stages.

            The stickiest point of the conversation was about water metering.

            During the public hearing for Heron Cove, Callow pointed out the detail in the “pro forma” (project narrative) that each unit’s water consumption would be individually metered and asked if that has been approved or is being negotiated.

            “It’s imperative economically for these units to have individual services with individual meters,” said Steen, noting that water metering was discussed with the Select Board. “It hasn’t been approved; it’s obviously the (ZBA’s) decision. It’s listed as one of the waivers, but I can tell you without that relief, this project will not go forward.”

            In the recent case of Marion Village Estates (a Steen project,) Bobrowski asserted that the town had originally agreed to charge the longstanding project for water according to the lowest pricing tier. The town later added tiers and, since MVE’s three meters were each accounting for 20 units’ usage, the project has been charged according to the highest pricing tier based on the meters’ usage records.

            Tifft empathized with Steen’s plight in the members’ post-hearing discussion, but Callow disagreed and so did others.

            During an animated conversation among the membership after the public hearing had been continued to February 24, Nilson said the Steen can meter the water on his own and spread the cost over 30 years, for instance, “and he’d get it back as opposed to the town losing that water money. We should get the tiered rate because of the use; how it’s metered should not be our problem.”

            In the aftermath of that discussion, Nilson asked the members if Heron Cove should be conditioned that it cannot be turned into a condo association.

            Before adjournment, Callow would tell the ZBA members that she would be attending “conference of counsel” the next day to hear Bobrowski and Witten discuss Steen’s stipulation for single-unit water metering.

            “Wait ’til you see the binder and all the waivers that he wants. He doesn’t even want to put erosion control,” said Callow.

            Transportation was also discussed in the hearing, and Cordeiro explained from conversation with ORR School District administration that bus entry into private areas is problematic so he showed on the site plan a bus shelter for students along Route 6.

            Dr. Ed Hoffer, a ZBA member, noted that a bus route along Route 6 stops in two places in Marion but is seldom used by Marion residents.

            The main boulevard entrance has two, 20-foot, divided lanes to ensure that events will not block emergency access.

            The board voted to continue the public hearing to Thursday, February 24, at 6:30 pm.

            Three other cases were discussed, two in public hearings.

            Dustan McGlinn, the former owner at 176 Wareham Street was denied a variance from Section 230-5.1 of the Marion Zoning Bylaws to allow a nonconforming deck. Representing the new owner, Heidi Nye told the ZBA that the deck had already been cut back, and John Romanelli of New Bedford-based Zenith Land Surveyors told the ZBA that the deck now stands 10.1 feet back of the rear lot line and conforms to the setback requirement. Romanelli represented abutter Veronica Williams.

            George and Jean Linzee, 460 Front Street, were voted a special permit for construction of a 416 square-foot accessory apartment.

            Jay Flanagan, 26 West Avenue, was denied a variance to allow a public entry 4 feet closer to the street and was also denied a special permit to allow an extension of a non-conforming garage.

            The next meeting of the Marion ZBA is scheduled for Thursday, February 10, at 6:30 pm.

Marion Zoning Board of Appeals

By Mick Colageo