The makeup of the Marion Select Board had changed since the last time Tim Sawyer of Yarmouth Port-based Catalyst Architecture/Interiors Inc. was before its members to provide an update on the new Marine Center planned for Island Wharf.

            Catalyst was first involved almost three years ago in what started out as a design-feasibility study aimed at identifying needs, constraints and opportunities at the present site, from which emerged a conceptual design ultimately sent back for major revisions after Town Meeting feedback.

            As summarized by Sawyer during the Select Board’s February 22 public meeting, the conceptual design presented too large on the waterfront. He explained the necessary 19-foot elevation and 6- or 7-foot grade “that lends itself to requiring the building to be substantially elevated.”

            Catalyst responded with a reduced concept of less program area, and “observation amenities were extracted from the project,” said Sawyer, bringing the project down to bare needs. “We got to that reduced design concept in December 2020.”

            The revised design, he said, was produced on a conceptual budget-based design rather than an engineering-based design. By March 2021, Catalyst had produced what Sawyer called “early-level structural engineering narratives” that he considered valuable in establishing a budget. Catalyst was then authorized to develop that design with engineers and is now 99% consistent with the conceptual design.

            Sawyer said there have been a few modifications along the way involving greater detail. He said the project is at a 75% level of (bid-ready) documentation. Several meetings for progress review have not yielded any more significant changes but have yielded a few he considers relatively minor.

            The wraparound observation deck was considered to be not quite adequate for the Harbormaster Department’s views, so a cantilever design off the corner of the building has been added at minimal cost.

            The original design had an administration area, a welcome desk and two workstations. That has been redesigned into separate offices with glass walls.

            The revised project has received the Conservation Commission’s approval, and the next step is a site-plan review.

            Municipal permitting will clear the way for the completion of documents and bidding, with the goal to align bidding toward the end of summer to bring to Special Town Meeting in October.

            The emerging concern during the COVID-19 pandemic was financial, and postpandemic inflation has made estimated construction costs soar from $2,862,000 to a new January 5 estimate of $3,516,500, a $654,000 increase.

            Compounding the impact is an originally anticipated $2,300,000 in funding from the state’s Seaport Economic Council topped out at approximately $1,600,000. The SEC told Deputy Harbormaster Adam Murphy that Marion is already the beneficiary of a disproportionate allocation and that no more SEC funds are forthcoming. All the while, the department has been researching grant opportunities to mitigate the shortfall.

            Finance Director and Interim Town Administrator Judy Mooney pointed out that the first $300,000 granted by the SEC was for the design of the Marine Center, and the remaining $1,300,000 received earmarked for construction. Sawyer countered that the entire $1,600,000 goes to the bottom line.

            In explaining the inflated price, Sawyer said the construction industry is still suffering from the effects of COVID. While the price of wood is getting slightly closer to pre-Covid levels, the cost of steel remains high.

            Due to its required elevation, Sawyer estimated that the new Marine Center will cost $647 per square foot, “not outlandish from what I’ve been seeing,” he said. “A building like this that we had done four years ago … in the $400 to $500 range.”

            Sawyer advised against further shrinking of the currently proposed footprint, citing elevation as the cost driver. He told the Select Board he has “cherry picked” $90,000 in potential savings via materials selection.

            “Because the structure is on the perimeter, the expensive square footage is the foundation,” he explained. “We’ve kind of lost our economy of scale.”

            Select Board Chairman Randy Parker agreed and suggested that there is no aesthetic value to a red-copper roof if the seagulls are going to use it for droppings anyway.

            Sawyer will presumably use March to “button up” all the drawings with a best-case scenario of trying to take bid pricing to a special Town Meeting in October.

            Select Board member Norm Hills found a $400,000 mistake in the estimate. “That makes me uncomfortable. … I just want to hear somebody say there aren’t any more,” he said. He was not consoled by the fact the mistake works in Marion’s favor. “Still a lot of money that we don’t have. … Unfortunately, we have a lot of other demands for money.”

            Select Board member Toby Burr, the owner of Burr Brothers Boats in Marion, recused himself from the proceedings.

            In her Town Administrator’s Report, Mooney led off with a Department of Public Works facility update, noting that the February 13 committee meeting with lead architect Will Saltonstall yielded cost estimates informed by consulting engineer Ken Motta. The committee discussed options to conduct some of the work internally, including water and sewer lines and extending electrical utilities.

            “It was a great meeting, I walked away from there (feeling) comfortable,” said Parker, who said the committee also looked at styles of buildings and was waiting on Morton Buildings. “We’re still within the budget but not by much.”

            Mooney gave a brief FY24 Budget Update before attending the Finance Committee’s meeting that night with the Fire Department. As of February 22, the town was waiting on the Old Rochester Regional School District for a preliminary budget. She said the town is dealing with a budget deficit of just under $300,000.

            Finally, Mooney issued a reminder that the deadline for the Annual Town Meeting Warrant is Tuesday, March 14. That includes citizens-petition articles that must be stamped by the town clerk.

            During Open Comment, Marion resident Barry Gaffey expressed interest in opening land access to the “Kittansett” beach area off Point Road. Hills disagreed, calling the area hazardous. Gaffey is concerned about parking on what he says are private roads in the area.

            Under Action Items, the board voted to approve early voting by mail and in person to be conducted May 1-9 (Monday-Thursday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm and Friday from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm), designated Police Chief Richard Nighelli the responsibility to assign police detail for the May 12 Town Election, approval of the Massachusetts Historical Commission Preservation Restriction Agreement for the Marion Town House, three one-day liquor licenses for the Marion Social Club (Clam Boil on March 26 from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm, Chicken Bake on April 23 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Italian Dinner on May 21 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm and finally approval of a Water/Sewer commitment of $496.48 (final readings February 3.)

            New Town Administrator Geoff Gorman will attend the next meeting of the Marion Select Board on Tuesday, March 7, at 6:00 pm.

Marion Select Board

By Mick Colageo

            Marion’s 1991 ladder truck took center stage, as Fire Chief Brian Jackvony met with the Finance Committee on February 22 at the Music Hall.

            A new ladder truck estimated to cost $1,200,000 was originally pitched as a capital need of the department, but the Capital Improvements Planning Committee ranked it outside the top-10 recommended projects for consideration of the Finance Committee and Select Board.

            The existing 1991 ladder truck was bought 10 years ago from the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It recently broke down during a Wareham fire. Jackvony said the truck has outlived its useful life and according to a regional expert is beyond repair. Even parts would have to be specially manufactured. In 2016, Marion spent over $30,000 on the truck.

            In discussing the need for this particular piece of equipment, Jackvony gave different scenarios where fighting fires has become more complicated.

            Solar panels on roofs are a deterrent to traditional access in treating fires, he said. A ladder truck is necessary to treat boat fires, as well. Jackvony said a new ladder truck could serve Marion for 30 years. The tank capacity would be 480 gallons. To supplement that water supply, Marion has a fire engine with far greater capacity.

            Jackvony said that while Mattapoisett does not have a ladder truck, Rochester and Wareham do.

            “The (existing) ladder truck has been consuming a great deal of our repair money,” said Jackvony, noting that Marion is using a Mattapoisett vendor for vehicle repair at a significant savings over the factory-authorized dealer in North Attleboro.

            In introducing an overview of his FY24 estimated budget, Jackvony said that the proposed 2% budget increase reflects the pay increase as dictated by the town’s Personnel Policy Classification Plan covering most if not all department employees. Jackvony said he is scheduled for a greater increase because he is employed on a contract.

            Jackvony told the committee that apparatus repairs, though not a surprise, has been a point of struggle in preparing a FY24 operating budget. “The cost of materials and labor have skyrocketed over the past two years. The cost of vehicles has exploded,” he said.

            A recent replacement of belts and pulleys on a town ambulance cost $1,500, nearly double what the repair typically cost prior to the pandemic, according to Jackvony, who said he was then told there was no mark-up on parts for that repair.

            Contractual services have also been a challenge for the department. Jackvony said Marion uses cloud-based programs for government-mandated reporting on calls and patient care. Personnel scheduling costs, he said, are increasing from $1,000 this year to $2,000 next year and $3,000 the following year.

            Consolidation of planning and reporting to one platform would result in an increase to $14,000, Jackvony said. Reporting to the federal government, he explained, is a prerequisite to eligibility for grant funding through FEMA.

            Jackvony said that the department has spent $34,000, nearly exhausting its $37,400 budget line for truck repair for the current fiscal year, which ends on June 30. Jackvony said the department’s budget is also affected by “consumables,” the small items it takes to run a large department.

            “We’re not immune, we’re doing the best we can,” he said.

            One area the Fire Department is looking to increase revenue for the town’s General Fund is emergency services. Marion last billed an annual $385,000. “If we don’t bill where we should be, the insurance companies just keep the money,” he said.

            Some EMS billing, he said, is not subject to Medicare and Medicaid, and that is where he said the department could seek increases to be approved by the Select Board.

            Finance Committee member Margie Baldwin, assigned to examine the Fire Department’s budget, noted that Marion charges $1,379 for a basic life-support call, significantly less than the county average of $1,700. “So we have some room,” said Baldwin.

            Marion uses Coastal Medical Billing, which collects a standard 3% according to Finance Director Judy Mooney and according to Jackvony, collects an average of 89.1% of its billing to the consumers of the services rendered.

            Jackvony said the Fire Department provides proactive services to prevent health crises. The service will likely fall under Mobile Integrated Help, allowing Marion to bill insurance companies, but the $30,000 license fee is coming down to approximately $5,000.

            Marion Fire Department made 696 transports last year over nearly 1,000 medical calls to the department; 16% of calls overlap.

            “We’re doing it all with part-time help,” said Jackvony, who recommended adding four, full-time paramedics who would also be trained as firefighters. As of now, the department schedules 416 hours per week of part-time help.

            Given the imminent addition of 240 housing units, Jackvony said, “The Fire Department can’t be left behind.”

            Marion is staffed round the clock in medical, but firefighters are on call weekdays after 4:00 pm.

            In answer to Finance Committee Chairman Shay Assad, Jackvony had not, as of February 22, approached the Select Board about transitioning to more full-time staff. Assad recommended Jackvony propose fees to the schools (public schools and Tabor Academy) to help mitigate services not covered by the payment of taxes.

            Shaun Cormier, the town’s Facilities director, also reported to the committee. Mooney summarized the department’s annual operating budget at approximately $393,000.

            In addition to a 2% scheduled salary increase in his department, Cormier seeks to upgrade a laborer’s position to a carpenter’s position. He told the committee it has been difficult to find help offering $18 per hour.

            “In order for this department to be successful, I need a couple of capable, experienced people under me,” said Cormier. “A carpenter position would be a huge help. Unfortunately, we’d be raising (the salary) from $18 an hour to $30.”

            Cormier said the money is in the department based on a plan to save $13,600 in rent at the formerly town-owned Atlantis Drive property into the newly renovated basement of the Town House. “My plan is to move our shop down there,” he said.

            Assad researched school choice and engaged the committee in a lengthy discussion, a hot topic as each of the Tri-Towns watch enrollment numbers.

            The Marion Finance Committee had not scheduled its next public meeting at adjournment.

Marion Finance Committee

By Mick Colageo

            In her February 16 Chairperson’s Report to the Rochester School Committee, Sharon Hartley told the members she has been preparing her report to the town for budget season. Part of that preparation has included the reading of the minutes from every School Committee meeting.

            “It’s impossible … to read the pages and pages of meeting minutes without feeling proud of the work that we’ve done, the reports that we’ve heard, the feedback we’ve given and the decisions we’ve made,” said Hartley, citing the fact RMS has zero positive COVID-19 cases, was able to move to a layered, mitigation approach involving some social distancing and is now experiencing student life as it should be.

            Alluding to the committee’s tour of ORR District schools and the joy it has been to “see them like in prepandemic days,” Hartley said, “This (past) fall, we’re no longer discussing mitigation efforts and are able to focus on education …”

            Hartley would later brief the committee on the progress on the FY24 budget, saying the Budget Subcommittee is nearing the end of its work.

            Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson reported that the School Committee’s Budget Subcommittee will meet to finalize its recommended FY24 budget on Wednesday, March 1, at 2:00 pm at Rochester Memorial School.

            Focusing on some of that normal student life in his Principal’s Report, Derek Medeiros announced a transition and welcome event held on February 1 for incoming Kindergarten students. Registration is open online.

            Medeiros also credited the participants in the January 26 fourth-grade concert on an all-around Disney theme.

            ORR Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Shari Fedorowicz told the committee that Hill for Literacy, Inc., Executive Director Darci Burns would be attending its March meeting to present the needs-assessment program that began in district elementary schools in the fall.

            As of February 16, 31 faculty members had expressed interest in participating in program leadership roles, and Fedorowicz said that Medeiros was instrumental in getting the program up and running in Rochester.

            Fedorowicz explained the process, noting that a leadership team has been working with Hill for Literacy, Inc., since the start of the academic year. Once all data is in, the team will in May or June select from options a core program to introduce in the fall.

            The team will meet twice per month with the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE.)

            Fedorowicz said up to 150 educators and 176 caregivers are participating in professional development via the Instructional Council. She thanked the committee for its feedback.

            A half-day professional-development day on March 8 will be the team’s first session working with Hill for Literacy, Inc.

            The committee voted to delegate the response to the Open Meeting Law violation filed against the committee by Mattapoisett resident Kathleen LeClair to town legal counsel as recommended by the superintendent.

            On February 14, LeClair filed three complaints with the state, on February 16 updating her complaint regarding the Rochester School Community’s reception of public gifts (donated books) without a vote. LeClair’s other two complaints against the Equity and Policy subcommittees require response by those subcommittees, according to Nelson.

            The committee voted to approve the READS Collaborative Agreement Amendment, the School Health Unit Application through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (allows designated staff to administer certain medications such as an epi-pen or aspirin to students when medical staff is not available such as field trips.)

            In his Financial Report, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber told the committee that RMS still has $875,000 in the FY23 operating budget and updated the members on ice-removal work as reported by ORR Facilities Director Gene Jones. He also reported on free school lunches and the hope that the service can continue into the 2023-24 academic year.

            In the Administration Report, Director of Student Services Craig Davidson discussed the Math Acceleration Academy that would be held during February vacation, some 13 classrooms operating for students in Grades 3-10, all staffed by professionals, teachers and specialists, along with social workers, cafeteria workers and custodial staff, all part of ORR District staff.

            “It is a stipend position, but they’re still giving up their February breaks to educate our own students,” said Davidson.

            In answer to committee member Anne Fernandes’ question, Medeiros explained that students are recruited to attend the Acceleration Academy based on performance data.

            Davidson also reported on RMS special-education liaisons (staff) participating in a February 13 event at ORR Junior High School. The aim of the event is to prepare Grade 6 students for transition to Grade 7.

            Nelson announced the retirement of Theresa Craig, the READS program’s executive director.

            No one answered the invitation to participate in an Open Comment session.

            The next meeting of the Rochester School Committee is scheduled for Thursday, March 23, at RMS library, and the next meeting of the Joint School Committee will be held on Thursday, March 30, at ORR Junior High School media room. Both meetings begin at 6:30 pm and are accessible in person or remotely via Zoom.

Rochester School Committee

By Mick Colageo

            The Rochester Finance Committee Monday night continued reviewing the proposed FY24 town budget as it wrestled with whether to add new positions despite a $155,000 shortfall between revenue and money requests.

            Highway Surveyor Jeff Eldridge made the case for a new, full-time mechanic that several departments, including his will share, costing his budget an additional $59,946. Eldridge explained that nowadays he and his other employees handle most of the mechanical work themselves, and he and the fire chief help each out in that area as well. But the work takes him and his employees away from other duties. A couple of these veteran employees may soon retire, and the jobs they cannot fix themselves are expensive. His example: $185 for a department truck’s single visit to an expert repair shop.

            “I can save a lot of time by having this person,” Eldridge said. “Hopefully we can have someone like this in the building every day. We haven’t had a new employee since 1997. We’ll share this mechanic with other departments.”

            Fire Chief Scott Weigel said he’s the only one who regularly mans the fire stations. That’s why he would like to add $34,000 to his budget for a new part-time, assistant firefighter. His plan, he said, would be to use two to three part-timers for 8:00 am to 4:00 pm shifts Sundays through Saturdays.

            “It’s becoming too difficult to be just a one-person department,” Weigel said, noting that since January alone the department has fielded 149 calls. He said this new position would be able to help him call runs, do inspections and maintain the equipment.

            Eldridge, who is also the Fire Department’s deputy chief, pointed out the problem with call departments. “You don’t know who will show up,” he said. “This will be a better way.”

            Financial Director Suzanne Szyndler provided the caution on these plans. She reported that the town has had some good years revenue-wise in the past few years but that this budget year is not one of them. New-growth (tax levy that supports the budget) has gone from $400,000 in FY23 to an estimated $175,000 in FY24, she said. “So we are losing revenue,” Szyndler said. “This is very concerning to me; I am struggling with this budget.”

            Town Administrator Glenn Cannon then made an announcement that may alter some salaried positions as the budget process moves forward. The new Town Counsel (Mead, Talerman & Costa, LLC) has informed him that the new Personnel Board does not have the authority to make grade changes for particular employees, a task this new board had set about doing under its goal to achieve a more equitable compensation system.

            Szyndlar said this new information will change some departments’ salary proposals, but she has been careful to keep those proposals out of the department budgets the Finance Committee has been given for its review.

            The Finance Committee ultimately voted to recommend the $737,939 Highway Department budget that includes the new mechanic and the $418,365 Fire Department budget that includes the cost of the part-time firefighter assistant. However, committee members agreed to revisit these budgets as the town budget process plays out.

            The committee agreed to meet next on Tuesday, March 7, at 7:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.

Rochester Finance Committee

By Michael J. DeCicco