“I ran because people told me they needed me in there doing what I do,” stated Tyler Macallister on the eve of the special election to fill the unexpired term on the Mattapoisett Select Board created by the passing of John DeCosta.

            On Tuesday night, Macallister secured his return to the conference room table, winning 471 votes to Ken Wilbur’s 224. Town Clerk Catherine Heuberger said that approximately 12.3-percent of the town’s 5,512 registered voters came out for this mid-summer election.

            And timing of the election made campaigning difficult for Macallister, who owns a charter fishing business. He said family and friends called and sent texts to voters reminding them to get out and vote on July 27. “It’s really tough to run a campaign in June and July, my busiest season, but I had people around me helping,” he said.

            Two of Macallister’s strongest supporters were his wife, Cynthia, and campaign treasurer Abigale Field. Macallister was not able to attend the reading of the election results due to fishing commitments, but his wife stated after learning her husband had won, “We thank the town of Mattapoisett [and] the people who gave us support. Tyler is looking forward to serving the town in this capacity.”

            The Wanderer was able to reach Macallister as he returned home from a day at sea. He said of the win, “I’m relieved and happy. … [Wednesday] morning, I’ll reach out to Mike Lorenco (town administrator) and find out what the hot button items are now.” But Macallister is confident it will not take him long to come up to speed. “Thank you, Mattapoisett. I appreciate the opportunity to serve and the encouragement I’ve received. I like Mattapoisett, that’s why I want to serve.”

            During his campaigning in June, Macallister spoke of the work he had done during his first eight years on the Select Board. During those years, the town built up stabilization funds, paid down debt, and secured the town with a triple-A bond rating, he said. “We are doing well in spite of COVID-19 because we planned for things like this with stability funds,” he said in June. “We came through because of a lot of hard work on the part of various boards and committees. I can continue those efforts to keep our funds strong.”

            He vacated his selectman’s seat to apply for the town administrator opening that was filled by the hire of Mike Lorenco, then lost a close race to DeCosta when he tried to get back onto the Select Board.

            Macallister, 53, currently serves on the town’s Finance Committee. He had also held a five-year seat on the Conservation Commission and the Plymouth County Advisory Board. He spoke in June of the need to study the future of such buildings as Town Hall, the possibility of school consolidation, the needs of the aging population, and upcoming contract negotiations.

            Holding an MBA from UMass and a bachelor’s degree from UMass Dartmouth in Marine Biology, Macallister works as a consultant to the renewable energy industry in addition to his charter fishing business. Originally from Cape Cod, Macallister and his family have lived in Mattapoisett for 20 years.

By Marilou Newell

            The Rochester Conservation Commission wasn’t expecting to issue an approval for Snipatuit Road Solar, LLC’s Notice of Intent application for a large-scale solar farm off Snipatuit Road; however, after a lengthy discussion, the commission felt confident that it could cover all its bases in its written decision, even though important documents and state permits remain outstanding, possibly for many months.

            The NOI had been discussed during several public meetings over the last several months. So, with few questions remaining, the applicant’s engineer, Eric Las of Beals and Thomas, Inc., asked the commission to issue an Order of Conditions and include special conditions that would allow for approval as they wait for the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program to issue the project a conservation management permit so construction could begin. That permit, though, could take months – perhaps even a year – which, Las pointed out, would put the project at risk should the commission decide to keep the public hearing open for just as long.

            On Zoom with Las was Caroline Booth, who referred to a letter from NHESP from earlier that day. But Chairman Christopher Gerrior pointed out that the letter did not give any further details than a previous letter about minimizing the impacts the project would have on the sensitive habitats at the site. “We would need to know … those things,” he said.

            Booth commented that the Snipatuit Road solar project, Featherbed South Solar project, and Braley Hill North Solar project are intertwined due to the turtle habitats contained within each site, and the mitigation plan would include the full protection of surrounding land in the form of conservation restrictions to reduce further fragmenting the habitats.

            Las and Booth acknowledged that no construction could start until NHESP issues the project a permit, but Matt Creighton, the commission’s peer-review consultant, cautioned the ConCom that, although it could issue approval ahead of the NHESP permit, it would be wise to wait. If the NHESP permit requires any changes to the plan, the project would have to reappear before the commission. He added that the conservation restriction must be recorded at the Registry of Deeds before the Order of Conditions anyway.

            Las appealed to the commission, saying, “We’re not trying to pull a fast one here. … I just don’t see how a conservation restriction is going to change the project. … I just don’t see how in any way what we’re doing with Natural Heritage is going to change or require us to come back.” He said he trusts the NHESP to make the proper recommendations. “I just don’t see a need to delay for up to three months,” he said, noting how often commission members can come and go, and a delay would jeopardize all the work put into the project so far.

            Creighton said the applicant would be “rolling the dice” if they wanted to close the public hearing now but said it was up to the commission. Las added that, even if NHESP required more to be done to protect the habitat, there is plenty of mitigation land to allow the project to go above and beyond what the project has been required to do up until now.

            Booth said the Order of Conditions the commission issued for the Featherbed solar project could be referenced in the Order of Conditions for the Snipatuit Road project. It could also include the condition that all NHESP requirements be met.

            Still, asked Gerrior, “How can the commission make accurate conditions to things that we don’t even know? That’s where I’m getting hung up on.”

            Booth suggested a general condition requiring that the applicant obtain the conservation management permit and meet all the requirements set forth by NHESP. This would cover all that the commission requires and put it into the Order of Conditions, she said.

            In the end, the commission did just that and added some conditions that Conservation Agent Merilee Kelly preferred to include.

            Also during the meeting, the commission continued the Request for a Certificate of Compliance for 268 Mattapoisett Road until August 3, so the commission could visit the site and confirm that no tree-clearing has occurred within the 25-foot no-touch zone. The NOI filed by A.D. Makepeace Company, Inc. for Morse Swamp Reservoir, 0 County Road, to restore and replicate large swaths of wetlands was continued until August 3.

            The next meeting of the Rochester Conservation Commission will be held on Tuesday, August 3, at 7:00 pm.

Rochester Conservation Commission

By Jean Perry

            Jason Chisholm was unanimously voted onto the Rochester School Committee during the July 19 Board of Selectmen meeting at the Town Hall.

            The May 26 Annual Town Election failed to produce a winner for an open seat after longstanding member Tina Rood chose not to run for reelection. No one pulled papers and there was tie in write-in votes, so the task of filling the position fell to the selectmen in concert with the School Committee. They met on Monday night as required in the case of a failure to elect.

            “It’s really about serving the entire community; I feel called to do that. I believe we’re here for the long haul,” said Chisholm, who told the meeting that the 2021-22 academic year will be the fourth for his family in Rochester. “I’ve definitely recognized where there is room for improvement.” Chisholm said he is a seasoned professional involved in non-profit organizations and also a sports coach.

            Chisholm was one of three candidates who, after sending letters of interest, were invited to speak before the committee and the board on Monday night. His term will expire at the 2022 Town Election next spring.

            Rochester School Committee Chairperson Sharon Hartley presided over the appointment that was attended by all four sitting committee members, including Kate Duggan, Anne Fernandes, and Rob Rounseville, along with Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson.

            Tim Scholz and Maciel Pais were the other two candidates.

            Scholz, who served on the Rochester School Committee six years ago, offered his obvious experience and noted his recent retirement. “I know exactly what I’m getting into,” he said, alluding to all the subcommittee work that committee members typically perform. “You guys also know me; you know exactly what you’re going to get from me.”

            Nonetheless, Scholz acknowledged that the town’s best interests might be served by getting new people involved and said he would support such a decision.

            Pais, who works at Greater New Bedford Vocational Technical High School in visual learning, said he has attended many school committee meetings. “Half my life has been providing education for students and doing right by students. Now, as an administrator, my job is to give both teachers and students the opportunity for the best experience. Roch has an excellent school system and I want to be part of it,” he said. Pais told the meeting he also has experience in budgets and teacher contracts. He said his passion will always be education and he aims to lend support today so that, in the future, the students can support their world.

            “I think this is a difficult decision because all of your hearts are in the right place. I hope we have the same dilemma when we have the election,” said Nelson.

            Hartley told the three candidates, “No matter what happens, we want you to know we appreciate your interest and want you to stay with it.”

            Duggan asked if the candidates were aware of the opening before the May 26 town election and, if so, why did they not enter. Responses indicated a lack of awareness, which left the committee and the selectmen pondering exactly how publicity can be improved next time around.

            The Board of Selectmen addressed other vacancies, voting to enter into negotiations with Kaitlin Young for the position of town planner. “She comes with a lot of experience as a planner and as a conservation agent,” said Chairman Brad Morse.

            The selectmen voted to approve the appointment of new Conservation Agent Merilee Kelly to represent the town on the Mattapoisett River Valley Water District Commission and Water Protection Advisory Committee, the Buzzards Bay Action Committee, and APC Nemasket Management Plan Steering Committee.

            In her Town Administrator’s Report, Suzanne Szyndlar told the selectmen that she would like to start bringing people in for interviews for the town treasurer’s position.

            It was determined that the original September 17 deadline for final submission of articles for the October 18 Special Town Meeting warrant is not sufficient, so that submission deadline has been move up to August 6. The draft warrant review will be held on September 6.

            Rochester received its fourth CARES Act reimbursement for $225,000, bringing the funding approximately halfway toward the total $825,000; two more CARES Act checks will be coming to Rochester.

            The town’s Council on Aging has been awarded $63,000 in state grant funding to purchase a new van.

            Rochester received its first round of ARPA funding at $297,625 and is anticipating $595,250 more in February. The town will receive an additional $1,104,000 in ARPA funding that will be delivered through Plymouth County.

            Szyndlar clarified to the selectmen that ARPA funding is not a reimbursement plan like CARES Act funding, but a resource for the town. Treasury guidance permits funds that are obligated by December 2024 to be expended by December 31, 2026. Despite the funding, the town is taking a cautious approach, considering the slow evolvement of information coming down from the federal government.

            Rochester’s FY22 apportionment of $308,083 from the state in Chapter 90 funds (roads) is up $6,421 from last year.

            The selectmen signed their approval of the Buzzards Bay Coalition’s annual Watershed Ride scheduled for October 3 on Marion Road and approved by the Highway, Fire, and Police Departments.

            The selectmen voted to accept a SEMASS PILOT payment of $342,600 for May 2021.

            The selectmen voted, effective July 11, 2021, to approve Fire Chief Scott Weigel’s proposed on-call payroll rates for FY22: deputy chief, $26.41; captain, $25.34; lieutenant, $24.27; paramedics, $24.12; and on-call Fire EMT, $21.97. Weigel told the selectmen he wants to be competitive with the rates. “I think you’ve done an amazing job staffing that department,” said Selectman Woody Hartley.

            Selectman Paul Ciaburri will join a seven-person COA committee looking into expansion of the Senior Center.

            Hartley presented an 1899 atlas of Rochester’s town boundaries donated by the Munroe family for safe keeping.

            Ciaburri expressed concern about fast-moving traffic off of Rounseville Road in the direction of the Town Hall. Town Counsel Blair Bailey told the selectmen that any discussion about potential traffic measures will necessarily involve the adjacent church.

            The selectmen entered into an executive session to discuss non-union personnel negotiation strategy and did not return to open session.

            The next meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen is scheduled to be held on Monday, August 2, at 6:00 pm.

Rochester Board of Selectmen/Rochester School Committee

By Mick Colageo

            There is a successful conclusion in sight for Papa’s Real Estate, LLC’s propane storage business planned for Luce Avenue, but before the Marion Planning Board votes to approve the application filed by Dena Xifaras there are still some technical matters to resolve.

            During its July 19 meeting, the Planning Board’s peer-review engineering consultant, Beals and Thomas, sent a July 13 letter to the applicant, its engineer, and to the board.

            Xifaras, a Mattapoisett resident who will run the business with her husband, Michael Papadakis, told the board that her civil engineer is working diligently and is intent to make sure all stormwater is handled onsite and is compliant with Town of Marion requests.

            Citing minimal use, the applicant is seeking waivers from the requested environmental assessment, the request that gravel be placed around the catch basins (citing engineering advice against), and Xifaras said they can re-dig with an excavator to show soil samples are consistent with their report.

            “Our engineer has indicated he would be happy to meet, if appropriate,” Xifaras told the board.

            Planning Board Chairman Will Saltonstall noted that the board had already voted to waive an environmental assessment. “We have a set of rules, but they don’t always apply to projects,” he said. “My inclination would be to ask (the applicant) to request the waivers and then we will look at them, … push that back to our review engineer before the next meeting, and then we can respond.”

            Saltonstall characterized the peer review as “engineering talk” that would not be easily digested by board members, including himself. The board voted to continue the case to August 2 at 7:15 pm.

            Also continued was the public hearing for a special permit applied for by Sherman Briggs and Hamblin Homes, Inc. for the construction of 28 townhouses at Spring and Mill Streets.

            Correspondence from Open Space Acquisition Commission Chair John Rockwell addressed stormwater management, and one dated July 15 from Steven Poole, the applicant’s engineer, indicated that the developer hopes to have drainage matters solved this week.

            The case was continued to August 2 at 7:05 pm.

            Along with Beals and Thomas, the board voted to designate Field Engineering and Dartmouth-based SITEC (recently acquired by Boston-based Civil & Environmental Consultants) as the three peer-review engineering firms for Marion Planning Board cases for the next three years.

            The challenge, said Saltonstall, is the variety in the firms’ hourly rate schedules. “They’re pretty diverse from junior person, administrator, all the way up to senior level. It’s hard to evaluate,” he said.

            Planning Board member Norm Hills was pleased to report that G.A.F. Engineering’s review of Marion’s Subdivision Rules and Regulations resulted in a positive report.

            “G.A.F. said our rules and regulations are in pretty good shape,” said Hills, nothing eight pages of comments, none of which he considers major. “It’s one of the things that’s been bothering me for years is, ‘Are we adequate?’ And the answer is, ‘Yes, we are,’ and these changes will make us up-to-date.”

            Before the Planning Board officially votes its approval of the prescribed changes, a public hearing will be set up to invite public reaction. That will not be on the August 2 agenda.

            The board voted to pay the Plymouth County Registry of Deeds $77 for a recording expense and $20 to the state Citizen Planner Training Collaborative (CPTC) Workshop for reimbursement for board member Eileen Marum’s participation.

            Dr. Ed Hoffer, chair of the Marion Board of Health, sat in on Monday night’s Planning Board meeting to offer requested feedback on the board’s discussion about a potential return to in-person meetings.

            Hoffer articulated concern over the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases and cited two positive cases over the weekend in Marion. “Whether it’s the Delta variant or people being too casual, it’s all speculation,” said Hoffer, who did not know if the new cases are people who have been vaccinated. “It would be interesting to know,” said Hills.

            Acknowledging the Town House lacks the floor space for distancing protocols, it was learned that the Music Hall is booked on potential Planning Board meeting nights until after October 18. Town Planner Gil Hilario suggested Sippican School as an in-person alternative be considered.

            It was decided that, for the time being, the Planning Board will remain a Zoom conference. The next meeting of the Marion Planning Board is scheduled for Monday, August 2, at 7:00 pm.

Marion Planning Board

By Mick Colageo