Having received news of the Finance Committee’s vote to approve two money-related articles for the Special Town Meeting, the Rochester Board of Selectmen was eager to add its endorsement of the warrant that will be put before the town’s voters on Monday, October 18, at Rochester Memorial School.

            Article 2 asks voters to appropriate $10,000 to replace the Assessors’ computerized system (CAMA) with a new and improved version from another vendor. Town Administrator Suzanne Szyndlar told the selectmen she anticipates $3,000 per year in savings and maintenance costs as a result. Article 3, which is related, asks voters to make a $3,000 commitment toward the Assessors’ supplemental budget for software and support.

            Previously, recommendations were made supporting Article 12 ($200,000 transfer to the Road Improvement Stabilization Fund) and Article 13 ($300,000 transfer to Rochester’s regular Stabilization Fund).

            In her Town Administrator’s Report, Szyndlar told the board that $1,415,268 in free cash has been certified in time for the Special Town Meeting. Acknowledging typical “turn-backs” adding up to between $100,000 and $200,000, Szyndlar said, “The trend won’t continue much longer.” Taking from free cash has been used to fund the Stabilization account.

            Rochester has received $78,000 more in federal CARES Act funding, bringing the town’s total to $904,000.

            “We spent the first allotment, so this will come in handy,” said Szyndlar, who told the selectmen that she has reached out to department heads, schools, the Fire Department, and the Council on Aging. “We’ll use all the money [within a] short period of time, so it’s going to be shovel-ready [projects].”

            In describing the website for new ARPA funding, Szyndlar said the requests potentially resulting in the release of $267,000 would fall into six categories and that the town, as has been the case with CARES Act funding, will continue to work through Plymouth County. The allocations will be based on population.

            The selectmen voted to designate access for two portals. Normally, the town administrator signs off on the grant, but in her dual role, including that of finance director, Szyndlar was approved to act as Rochester’s authorized representative and preparer for ARPA funding purposes.

            The selectmen announced their agreement to contract Community Paradigm Associates, LLC as a search firm to find a replacement for Szyndlar and agreed to sign the agreement subject to a vote of support at Town Meeting.

            The selectmen voted to recognize Cynthia Mello, the former town treasurer, with a citation thanking her for her 14 years of service to the town.

            The selectmen voted to accept a SEMASS PILOT payment of $363,956 for September.

            Selectman Paul Ciaburri acknowledged a $2,700 grant from Massachusetts Emergency Management that will be used to purchase a trailer to store hazmat suits and equipment. Ciaburri indicated that hazmat equipment is distributed in various places and this measure will locate it in one place.

            Unless it becomes necessary, the selectmen do not plan to meet prior to the October 18, 7:00 pm Special Town Meeting at Rochester Memorial School.

Rochester Board of Selectmen

By Mick Colageo

Superintendent Michael S. Nelson reports that the Towns of Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester are under a drinking water warning, which also affects five of the six district schools.

The drinking water warning is effective immediately for everyone in the Tri-Town who utilizes public water and it is advised that water is boiled before it is used. Old Rochester Regional High School, Old Rochester Regional Junior High School, Center School, Old Hammondtown School and Sippican School are affected by the warning. The drinking water warning remains in place until further notice.

The Rochester Memorial School is the only district school not affected by the drinking water warning because it uses well water rather than public water.

“Water used at the Rochester Memorial School is not public water, and instead is supplied through a well,” Facilities Director Gene Jones said. “This well water is tested independently and regularly, and is not affected by the drinking water warning issued today. We would like to assure Rochester Memorial School families that the water being used in the building is safe.”

The five affected schools will follow all directives of town, state and public health officials relating to the warning in regards to facilities work and food operations. Bottled water and hand sanitizer is being made available for students at the affected schools. All water that will be used for cooking or drinking will be boiled before use. Additionally, drinking fountains and water refill stations will also be closed at the affected schools until the drinking water warning is lifted.

“Our food services staff will follow the guidance provided by town officials including discarding food or beverage items in accordance with their directives, as well as boiling public water used in our day-to-day food services operations,” Director of Food Services Jill Henesey said.

The drinking water warning was issued as a result of water samples testing positive for E. coli. The towns are collecting repeat samples and working with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The DEP offers additional information and guidance regarding drinking water and public health orders here.

“We will follow all directives of the officials in each town, and will ensure students and staff have the necessary resources to continue their school days with as little disruption and inconvenience as possible while this drinking water warning remains in place,” Superintendent Nelson said. “We will continue to monitor the situation and keep the school community updated regarding any additional impact to the schools.”

Town Administrator James McGrail and the Marion Public Works Department report that the Town of Marion is currently under a boil water order.

In addition to Marion, the towns of Fairhaven, Mattapoisett and Rochester are also under boil water orders. The order was issued after routine town water samples collected on Tuesday, Oct. 5 tested positive for E. coli. Immediately after identifying the positive samples, officials engaged the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and a boil water order was issued. The cause of the contamination remains unknown at this time.

The boil water order remains in effect town-wide for all those who utilize public water, and will continue until further notice. All water that will be used for cooking, drinking, brushing teeth, washing dishes or food preparation should be boiled for at least one minute prior to use, or bottled water should be used as an alternative.

Any ice, beverages, formula or uncooked foods that were prepared with water from the public water system on or after Oct. 5 should also be discarded.

The same precautions to protect humans also apply to pets. Pets should be given bottled water or boiled water that has cooled. Water from any appliance connected to your water line, such as ice and water from a refrigerator, should not be used for pets while under a boil water order. Fish or other aquatic pets should not be exposed to water containing elevated bacteria levels, and appropriately boiled or bottled water should be used instead.

The towns will be collecting additional water samples on Thursday, Oct. 7. The towns have also started temporary chlorination of the distribution systems and will be flushing the system over the next several days to draw the chlorinated water into the distribution systems.

Residents will be notified when they no longer need to boil their water.

“We are working closely with the DEP and our partners in Fairhaven, Mattapoisett and Rochester to resolve this issue,” Town Administrator McGrail said. “We appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation and will be providing updates to our residents as soon as they are available.”

E. coli is a sub-group of the fecal coliform bacteria group. There are many strains of E. coli, most of which are harmless, but some strains can cause illness. Symptoms of E. coli sickness can include diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches or other symptoms. These symptoms may pose a greater health risk for infants, young children, the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems. These symptoms, however, are not just associated with water-borne illness; they may also come from other diseases. If you are ill with these symptoms, please contact your health care provider.

Residents with questions can contact Director of Public Works Nathaniel Munafo at 508-748-3540.

Additional information regarding drinking water boil orders and other public health orders can be found on the DEP’s website.

            The controversial case of the pier construction planned for 122 Register Road helped make the September 22 Conservation Commission meeting last over four hours.

            The application filed by 122 Register Road, LLC for an amended Order of Conditions to reduce the length of the pier by 30 feet was met with approval by the commission with conditions as authored by ConCom member Jeff Doubrava. One of those conditions was authorization of the installation of eight piles instead of the 10 in the original Order of Conditions.

            The applicant filed the amended Order of Conditions “smartly,” according to Conservation Commission Chair Shaun Walsh. “If this gets built,” said Walsh, “he’s going to want to file for a Certificate of Compliance.”

            Walsh expressed concern that conservation commissions make a mistake when they put a lot of conditions into amended orders of conditions because that paves the way for an appeal to the state Department of Environmental Protection by the applicant or a person aggrieved by the ruling.

            Instead, Walsh suggested that ConCom continues to monitor the health of the impacted saltmarsh through the fall and into the winter as advised by the wetlands circuit rider. He suggested the ConCom use its enforcement authority to require the applicant to restore as needed come spring. Walsh noted that an Enforcement Order is not appealable to the DEP.

            In a continued public hearing, John and Cynthia Paliotta, 119 Converse Road, filed a Notice of Intent for a land management plan to eradicate invasive plants, restore and enhance native plant communities and establish long-term health, manage the woodland for long-term health, protect historic stone walls, create a sustainable, long-term vista corridor to Sippican Harbor, and create a vertically diverse native wood plant community at 119 Converse Road.

            After hearing from the Paliottas’ representatives from LEC Environmental, Bob Gray, the third-party consultant on behalf of the Marion ConCom, told the attendees that he had reviewed the revised paperwork and the project. “I don’t think I’m prepared to sign off yet but want to hear the presentation and hear from the public,” he said.

            After more discussion, the commission planned to conduct a site visit on Saturday, October 16, and the case was continued to October 27.

            In other decisions, the commission voted approvals in four cases.

            Daniel and Mayo Morgan, who filed an RDA to reconstruct a deck/pergola in a new location south of its current location at 22 Point Road, was met with a vote of a Negative 2 determination. The land is subject to coastal storm flowage.

            Burr Brothers Boats’ ORAD application for the review and confirmation of the wetland resource area boundaries at 305 Front Street was approved as accurate. The land is subject to coastal storm flowage.

            Sarah Gardner filed an NOI to build a single-family house on Point Road in the buffer zone to bordering vegetated wetlands. The commission voted to issue a Certificate of Compliance.

            Tom Heiser filed a NOI to add a deck, parking, and an underground propane tank at 5 Island Court in the buffer zone to bordering vegetated wetlands; the commission voted to issue an Order of Conditions.

            The next meeting of the Marion Conservation Commission is scheduled for Wednesday, October 13, at 7:00 pm.

Marion Conservation Commission

By Mick Colageo