The February 1 meeting of the Rochester Conservation Commission agenda was already light on public hearings when the two that were scheduled were not heard.

            A Request for Determination of Applicability filed by William Clapp for property located at 0 Clapp Road for work outside resources areas was withdrawn by the applicant to be filed at a later date as a Notice of Intent. A Notice of Intent filed by the same applicant for the same location for the construction of a single-family dwelling with associated septic system, freshwater well and utilities was continued to February 15.

            That left plenty of time for the commission to meet with Brian Wallace of JC Engineering regarding the vernal pool and drainage outfall pipe that predates the ongoing subdivision project at Plumb Corner.

            Wallace offered a change in the approved plans to an existing outfall pipe after making a site visit with the town’s peer-review consultant, Ken Motta of Field Engineering and Conservation Commission Chairman Chris Gerrior. Wallace explained that approved plans allowed the existing 27-inch pipe to be cut back but otherwise left as is, given that calculations show virtually no change in water flow.

            “But it would disturb the area to cut it back,” Wallace said. Gerrior confirmed that some vegetation would be impacted but believes it would rebound in subsequent growing seasons. Wallace said the pipe could be left as is with possibly a few rocks being placed at the opening to slow down water flow.

            Commissioner Dan Gagne questioned the ability of the pipe to perform adequately given it was partially clogged with sediment. He also said that planned cleaning of the pipe would cause an increase in flow into the wetland systems, possibly coming in conflict with wetland regulations. Gagne also pushed forward the need to have updated engineered plans if the approved plan is to be changed. “You need to show us what you are going to do,” he said.

            After further discussion including more thoughts on whether the pipe, which has been part of a subsurface drainage system for some 30 years, should be cut off or left as is, discussion came full circle.

            Wallace said several times that he could revisit drainage calculations for either leaving the pipe as is or cutting it back and cleaning it out, but in the end when asked by Gerrior if he’d prefer to leave the approved plan as is, Wallace opted to leave the permitted plans in place.

            In business matters, it was brought to the commission’s attention that some members had not signed permits, some of which were 21 days old as of Tuesday.

            Commissioner Ben Bailey said he does not want to call anyone out but suggested that emails are sent reminding commissioners their signature is needed and that they be named in the email. He said it is unfair to applicants to delay permits in this way. A motion was made and carried to include the names of missing commission signatures. “It’s part of being on the commission,” Gerrior reminded all.

            The next meeting of the Rochester Conservation Commission is scheduled for Tuesday, February 15, at 7:00 pm.

Rochester Conservation Commission

By Marilou Newell

            The 2022-23 academic calendar needed two rounds of voting and much in the way of discussion before a consensus was reached by the Old Rochester Regional Joint School Committee/Superintendency Union #55 in its January 20 meeting.

            The merits of half days in general and Good Friday’s place on a public-school calendar dominated a discussion that lasted the better part of an hour.

            Four “no” votes on each side of the JSC necessitated a second go-round with the calendar proposed by ORR Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson.

            One tweak that was agreed upon was movement of a professional-development day from Tuesday, January 3, 2023, to Friday, January 13, 2023. Nelson offered his support for the amendment to the calendar.

            That wasn’t enough to get it done.

            Carly Lavin, a Union-side holdout, said she would like to see at least one, maybe two school days, before the December break. “Definitely November 23rd,” she said. Also voting no on the first Union-side vote were Tiffini Reedy, Carole Clifford and Robin Rounseville. Region-side rejections of the calendar that left the rest of the calendar alone came from Michelle Smith, Matthew Monteiro, Margaret McSweeny and Frances Kearns.

            Hearing the ensuing debate, Clifford offered an altered motion changing the professional-development day to January 13 but also adding a full school day on December 22 and a half day on December 23.

            Before the second vote, Nelson told the members that the ORR administration can support the amendments in Clifford’s motion. The motions carried on both sides but not unanimously, as Reedy and Rounseville voted no a second time on the Union side and McSweeny and Kearns again voted no on the Region side.

            “We get to this point and we feel pressure to approve this calendar. I think that this is such a grueling process that we need to start this earlier,” said Rounseville.

            Burke said it is incumbent on the committee to make sure the item is on the agenda early in the school year so that the appropriate time can be given to the necessary discussion.

            Under the approved calendar, June 15 becomes the new last day of the 2022-23 school year.

            Nelson said that the JSC achieved a vote a week ahead of last year.

            ORR High School Principal Mike Devoll noted during the discussion that the students’ focus is lost in the middle of June and also on the precipice of any vacation break.

            “What I’ve found, if you’re talking about half days versus full days, there is no difference between a half day and full day leading into a vacation at the high school,” he said. “It’s the week leading into it so, if you’re looking at Thanksgiving, that entire week is a poorly attended week. If you’re talking about the December vacation, it’s all of the days leading up to it, as families seek the less-expensive travel options.”

            Mattapoisett Schools Principal Rose Bowman said only recently the day before Thanksgiving became a full day off. She agrees with Devoll that the entire week is “delicate for attendance” due to families’ travel plans.

            “If you live in the world of early childhood, December 23rd is a very challenging day to be in school. We’ve been in school on the 23rd, we’ve been a half day, we’ve been a full day. It’s been a challenge,” said Bowman. “I appreciate the calendar the way it’s written now that the last day (before vacation) is the 22nd. I would be less than honest with you to say that it is an academic, rigorous week for little children.”

            “Our job as school committee members is to … make sure that education is the very best it can be for our children throughout the school calendar,” said Union-side Chairperson Sharon Hartley, noting that there are two kinds of half days. “We need to make sure that we have great professional development for our staff; it makes a difference for our school district. … But the days that come before a holiday … what kind of an educational day is it?”

            It was a rhetorical question, as Hartley cited the funding required to support such a day and what little quality time it leaves for actual education to take place.

            Another substantial conversation took place around a revised draft policy that would allow the ORR Administration to sanction advertising on school grounds, something heretofore prohibited without school committee permission.

            Committee member Matthew Monteiro sought to clarify advertising’s definitions, focusing on the more subtle displays indicating some form of sponsorship. Comments that followed addressed the need to draw the line, how to maintain control and other complex questions. Nelson said the next step is to take the feedback to the policy subcommittee for review.

            Devoll said that any opportunities to gain revenue for athletics must be considered because the funding is not in the school budget, he said.

            In response to the state’s recommendation to update the school committee’s public-comment policy and at the same time eliminate the public-comment guideline because those guidelines are now in the policy, both sides of the JSC voted unanimously in favor of the changes. The policy will be posted on the school committee website.

            In an update on the superintendent’s evaluation timeline, Nelson said he is in year two of a two-year process. A midpoint progress review was held in July 2021. Nelson said he will continue to collaborate with the superintendent’s Goals Subcommittee.

            In his report to the JSC, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber said that several meetings have been held and that the FY23 budget process is going well.

            The JSC voted unanimously to approve Barber’s proposed changes to procurements requirements. The JSC also approved changes to eliminate gender-specific terms in ORR’s policy manual. Fernandes’ was the lone dissenting vote.

            The JSC moved into executive session and only returned to adjourn.

            The next meeting of the Joint School Committee/Superintendency Union #55 is scheduled for Thursday, April 28, at 6:30 pm.

Joint School Committee/Superintendency Union #55

By Mick Colageo

Limited parking availability in and around Mattapoisett Boat Yard was discussed when the Mattapoisett Marine Advisory Board met on January 27.

            Present during the discussion was Ned Kaiser from the MBY. He said that new parking restrictions along Ned’s Point Road implemented last year have put a burden on the limited parking available on his property, especially during busy weekends at the height of the season. He asked about the possibility of designating nonresident, boater parking at Barstow Wharf adjacent to the town’s public beach. When asked how many parking slots he anticipated needing, he responded, “about 50.”

            Kaiser said the need for nonresident parking for boaters using his services is great, adding that the parking stickers would only be used by boaters with moorings in the harbor.

            The MAB members discussed parking at the entrance to Good Speed Island, an area long designated for parking of boat trailers and associated vehicles. They recognized that storage of materials for the bike path project in parking spaces at that location has already limited space.

            Member Bob Moore cautioned that the parking availability at Barstow Wharf during the summer is also stretched and that allocating 50 parking spots for nonresident boaters might not work.

            Harbormaster Jamie McIntosh tossed the idea of a trolley into the discussion, one that could service Ned’s Point, MBY and Barstow Wharf with centralized parking at the Park and Ride on North Street. All agreed they want to do something to help the boatyard, while also recognizing the value of the launch service that MBY provides. Further discussion with the town administrator and Select Board will take place, McIntosh said.

            In other matters, the board members heard from member Ed Vankeruen, who has been editing and drafting tables of content and definitions contained in the Rules and Regulations. He said that some edits to text would clear up confusing areas. Moore said text should be plainly written so that anyone would be able to understand the context and meaning. He also stepped forward to assist with the project.

            In his brief report, McIntosh said that Childs Engineering from Plainville has been selected to do preliminary design work for rehabilitation planned for Long Wharf aka Freddie Brownell Wharf. He said he has spoken to several of the references Childs had offered, finding that Childs in excellent standing and capable of performing the work.

            Regarding the delayed dredging long planned between wharves located at Shipyard Park, McIntosh said, “Permitting is a mess between the Army Corps and Division of Marine Fisheries.” He said some work on pilings that would benefit boaters with dinghies spaces would now jump ahead of the dredging project.

            The next meeting of the Marine Advisory Board is planned for Thursday, February 24, at 7:00 pm.

Mattapoisett Marine Advisory Board

By Marilou Newell