MRC Hopes ‘Open House’ Opens Eyes

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            There is only so much one can glean from a PDF file, and so the revised plans for Marion’s proposed Marine Center to house the harbormaster and staff took on a dimension closer to real life on Saturday morning when Harbormaster Isaac Perry and Marine Resources Commission Chair Vin Malkoski conducted an informal meeting with interested citizens at Island Wharf.

            Suggested by Select Board member John Waterman, and billed as an Open House, those in attendance including MRC members Greg Houdelette, Toby Burr, Eiv Strand, Michael Moore, and Peter Borsari, gathered in the outdoor picnic-style area underneath the existing 15-foot square where Perry, Deputy Harbormaster Adam Murphy, and Assistant Harbormaster David Wilson perform their duties separated by plexiglass.

            Perry says the full-time staff gets used to the cramped quarters, but smiled when he recalled, “We ordered a pizza, but we had no place we could put it down.”

            The real challenge occurs when someone from the outside needs to conduct business, fill out forms, or log information. In such a case, one of the three full-time staffers must vacate his desk to accommodate the public. Administrative Assistant Donna Hemphill, meanwhile, works out of the Town House, and that says nothing of the half-dozen summer employees.

            Outside, Perry and Malkoski conducted a show-and-tell, walking to certain points in the parking lot to demonstrate for the sake of real-life perspective where exactly the footprint for the proposed Marine Center will rest.

            While the revised Marine Center design takes away some of the decking that residents do not want blocking their view of the harbor, Perry said the dedicated harbor space in the revised design was only reduced from 2,000 square feet to 1,800.

            The one, non-negotiable measurement, explained Perry, is the height, which in order to meet the 19-foot elevation requirement as established by FEMA, will reach close to the town’s 35-foot maximum allowed for new structures. The good news, Perry pointed out, is that from the harbor, a building at that height blends in with the horizon.

            Perry said it would take $1 million just to achieve the required elevation aspect of the $2.5 million project, which would be based on Seaport Economic Council grant funding and necessitating a $500,000 share generated by the town.

            “We need the grant money to do it, that’s the reality,” he told attendees.

            So far, Marion is approved for slightly more than $300,000 in a grant program that will continue in phases.

            In describing the current storage situation, Malkoski pointed to the lower floor and said, “We’re not supposed to have any permanent installations,” a situation he said the department is trying to get away from.

            Perry noted that the sale of the former town property at Atlantis Drive has further confined marine-related storage and said that the containers used by the Council on Aging will be replaced by permanent storage facilities at the Cushing Community Center, potentially making the containers available to the harbormaster. In the event of a storm, the plan now includes loading items onto a truck to be hauled away from the wharf. A container on site would shorten the steps.

            “There’s a lot of inefficiency that we’re trying to clean up,” said Perry, who estimates under ideal circumstances that a new facility would not be operational until late 2022 at the earliest.

            At the May 17 MRC meeting at the Music Hall, Borsari urged Perry and Deputy Harbormaster Adam Murphy to “make sure you are happy with (the new facility)…. It’s your one and only opportunity for it. We need to do it right.”

            Perry estimated that 36 people attended Saturday morning’s May 15 information session at Island Wharf.

            Recapping the storage situation in his report, he said the department still intends to be fully out of Atlantis Drive by June. “We’ve got a little bit of work to do there. A lot of the gear is fully deployed, so there’s not a lot,” he said. “But the containers are not a great solution … The company that owns them, once they have material in them, they will not move them.”

            He prefers a “utility-type trailer” and has gotten a couple of quotes under $10,000, so it would not be a capital project.

            “If we do get this building and we do have storage, we can park the trailers underneath and, in the event of a storm, we can just haul them out of there,” he said.

            Perry called the filing of the $300,000 grant “the first big bite,” and anticipates informal meetings over the summer. Shareholders on the Seaport Economic Council include the lieutenant governor and members of Mass Maritime Academy. Those meetings, he said, are open to the public, and estimated 250 in attendance at the last one he went to. “When we get a little closer (to the next meeting), we’ll certainly put it out to the group,” he said.

            The MRC’s Commercial Moorings Subcommittee has scheduled a meeting for Thursday, May 27, at 6:00 pm at the Music Hall. Malkoski, Moore, and Burr are on the subcommittee, but the meeting has been advertised so other MRC members may attend.

            At Wings Cove, 28 people are on a waiting list for moorings with 25 moorings available, and Deputy Harbormaster Adam Murphy confirmed that there are 89 people waiting for moorings. With 1,414 moorings and 1,300 spoken for, there are approximately 100 mooring permits available.

            Perry said an evaluation of the moorings and any resultant cleanup will then happen at Hammetts Cove. “Eventually we’ll go through all the coves,” he said. “It’s time to get that project going because we missed out on a whole year. It’s going to make a lot of people happy and bump up the numbers in the Waterways Account.”

            The MRC’s Shellfish Subcommittee is scheduled to meet on Thursday, June 3, at 6:00 pm.

            On Sunday morning, May 16, a private boat capsized in Marion Harbor, said Perry, most likely because it anchored off the stern. Six people on the boat were quickly brought to safety. The Marion Fire Department was supported by Wareham among other towns quick to assist. There were no fuel leaks.

            Malkoski and Perry desire a meeting with Town Accountant Judy Mooney to go over their department’s financials.

            The next meeting of the MRC is scheduled for Monday, June 21, at 7:00 pm.

Marion Marine Resources Commission

By Mick Colageo

Gatherings on the Green

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Back by popular demand, First Congregational Church of Rochester, 11 Constitution Way in Rochester, is pleased to announce that outdoor worship gatherings on the Church Green will resume on Sunday, May 30, at 10:00 am and continue throughout the summer (weather permitting). In the event of inclement weather, the worship gathering will be held in the Sanctuary that week. Attendees are asked to bring their own lawn chairs and sun protection. All worship gatherings are livestreamed on the church’s website, www.rochestercongregational.com. For more information, contact the church office at 508-763-4314 or email rochestercongregational@comcast.net.

Rochester Senior Center

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The Rochester Senior Center is pleased to announce that, effective June 1, Eric Poulin will begin his new role as director of the Senior Center. Eric comes to the Senior Center from the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office where he has been the program manager for the Community Affairs Unit. In this role, Eric worked on the prevention and reporting of elder abuse and financial fraud and other elder justice issues. Eric has 20+ years of experience involving employee supervision, assisting seniors with identifying and meeting their needs, grant writing, event planning, marketing, communications, public relations, and drafting local and state laws governing a host of issues including the food and beverage industry. He served on the Boards of Bristol Elder Services, the Southeastern Alliance for Elders, and Samaritans. He has also served on Coastline’s Money Management Program. The Rochester Senior Center staff, volunteers, and participants would like to extend a warm welcome to Eric.

            The Rochester Senior Center will host the state’s Mobile COVID-19 Vaccine Unit on Wednesday, May 26 at the Rochester Fire Station at 4 Pine Street. This COVID-19 vaccine clinic is open to everyone who qualifies to be vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine. You do not have to be a resident of Rochester. All are welcome to come and get vaccinated. A link will be provided at a later date to make reservations; however, walk-ins are welcome. Second doses will be administered at the same location three weeks later.

            May 26 is also Rochester Town Election Day at the Senior Center. There will no Senior Center activities on Wednesday, May 26, other than voting/elections and the vaccine clinic.

            Please contact the Senior Center at 508-763-8723 for more information or to make reservations for rides and/or events.

Community Spirit

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Dear Editor,

            I am a third-generation son on Mattapoisett, raised in the town from birth to adulthood. I was publicly educated in the town’s schools from kindergarten to graduation from ORR in 1988 with the same values: importance of education, civic engagement, and giving back to the community. My view of Mattapoisett was seen through the eyes of the good people of this town who went out of their way to improve, enhance, and bring greater value to Mattapoisett. These people were mostly volunteers, too, but it was their actions that inspired me to continue to be a very small part of our strong community, even though I live halfway across the world.

            It is true that many young adults leave town to explore the world beyond, for a variety of reasons. I, too, was one of those. Oftentimes, many who grew up here return in some way or another. In my capacity as an ORR alumnus, I have had the privilege of managing an alumni-sponsored scholarship fund since 2018 that provides a few clams to a graduating senior of ORR. Our class award, announced here in your publication, recognizes a student who has “demonstrated pride for the school community,” one who “leads from behind,” as way to “promote acceptance and inclusion.”

            Anathema to these values is one of the political ads that was recently published in a previous issue of The Wanderer. Professional journalist Brad Hathaway’s paid political advertisement implored residents to vote for candidate Jodi Lynn Bauer for Selectman because “SHE IS ONE OF US.”

            Since when is being a life-long resident of the town a singular qualification? Is there such a dearth of talent and experience among life-long residents that a son or daughter of the town who has made his or her way back to the town in later years is not qualified to run for the Board of Selectmen? To exclude outside experience and the contributions of non-legacy residents is to exclude every townsperson who is not a life-long resident for election to this executive-level board. I should point out to the readers of this publication that they consider that Mr. Hathaway is excluding the majority of town residents, along with a preponderance of The Wanderer’s readership. Introducing this level of divisiveness for a town election was a proxy for the political division we have witnessed on a national level. We have all witnessed what happens when these exclusionary seeds are allowed to take root and Mr. Hathaway’s message is right here in our town’s publication for all to see, if anyone was still wondering that our community was somehow immune to it.

            I would like to ask the readers of The Wanderer and voters of Mattapoisett how is it that we promote these values in our schools and community, yet entertain or consider restricting access to those who wish to put those values into practice later on in life with service to our town? These two points are irreconcilable, much like opening up the bike path (once it opens) to motorists. For residents who are new to this community of whatever age or station in life, and especially to our youngsters, Mr. Hathaway’s “townies-vs-gownies” ad is a scissor-cut to the unique fabric that has always made the Mattapoisett community “special.” It represents silly, old tropes that are both anachronistic and misanthropic.

            Contributing to the Mattapoisett community is not predicated on how much money you have, how old you are, if you work in town, or how long you have lived here. Inclusion and acceptance are values instilled in me by growing up here, and ones that I enthusiastically promote as a contributing alumnus of ORR. Those values must be reflected in anyone who sits on the Board of Selectmen. Otherwise, what we are promoting in our schools and churches in Mattapoisett are not actually reflected in town policy. Regardless of the results of the town election, I encourage our elected officials to reject this at once and will be watching this space to see their statements.

            Those whose best interests are in the success of the town and its community and want to give back in a way that promotes these very values – whether or not they have lived away or contribute to the community from afar – are forever welcome to be a continuous part of our beloved Mattapoisett community.

Sincerely,

Thomas Xenopoulos Peccini

President, ORR Class of 1988

The views expressed in the “Letters to the Editor” column are not necessarily those of The Wanderer, its staff or advertisers. The Wanderer will gladly accept any and all correspondence relating to timely and pertinent issues in the great Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester area, provided they include the author’s name, address and phone number for verification. We cannot publish anonymous, unsigned or unconfirmed submissions. The Wanderer reserves the right to edit, condense and otherwise alter submissions for purposes of clarity and/or spacing considerations. The Wanderer may choose to not run letters that thank businesses, and The Wanderer has the right to edit letters to omit business names. The Wanderer also reserves the right to deny publication of any submitted correspondence.

Complicated Site Plan for Randall Lane, LLC

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            Eric Las of Beals and Thomas Inc. came before the May 17 meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board to bring the board up to date on the massive 78-acre, 20,000-panel, 7.7-megawatt solar array planned for a wooded area off Randall Lane.

            Las complained that communications from the peer review consultant BETA Engineering was not being passed along to his office in a timely manner, and he also questioned what he said were costly fees paid by his client for BETA’s services. Las said that some 65 peer review comments were still being reviewed, but that some site plan revisions had been completed, including pulling one corner of the array away from wetlands. He said that National Heritage is “on board” with site plan revisions. He said a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreement is in the beginning stages of being drafted.

            Lengthy discussions ensued on a variety of site-related concerns brought forward by board members such as protection of wetlands associated with the herring run, but the majority of the discussion centered around technical aspects of written documents posed by member Janice Robbins.

            Robbins questioned how the project could be permitted before a complete survey was done and that there was no existing frontage for the landlocked site, suggesting an endorsement by the Zoning Board of Appeals might be helpful. She also advised the Beals and Thomas team members that, at the recent Town Meeting, new FEMA flood plain mapping and bylaw language that would likely impact the project was not in place.

            “This project is so complex we are going to have continued questions. We are not done yet,” Robbins stated. The hearing was continued until June 21.

            Things got a bit testy when Attorney Jack McGreen came to the board with information about new ownership of the Brandt Point Village subdivision. He said that of the nearly $1 million worth of work left on the project many months prior, according to the town’s peer review consultants Field Engineering, that sum is now closer to $62,000. Of those line items, McGreen said the majority belong to the homeowners’ association, not the developers.

            Shaking her head, Robbins said, “I am not agreeing to any sale without a bond!” She went on to say that the agreement struck years ago with Omega Financial, a company of which one of the developers was also a trustee, was not a bond or surety against work not being completed. “We have a long and difficult history with this subdivision,” she said, noting numerous occasions when the developers neglected to meet with the board and that, moving forward, a cash surety is the only form of insurance that she is willing to accept. She also vigorously noted that for the last three years the Omega agreement has been in default.

            McGreen responded with equal vigor, saying, “My client isn’t going to put up cash.” He said that the board had leverage in the form of holding up building permits if work remains incomplete. He said he would discuss the matter with his client and return at a later date.

            Earlier in the proceedings, the board met with Ryan Correia to discuss an existing stone wall along scenic roadway Crystal Springs Roads. He said he had buyers for three lots, which would require at least two penetrations of the existing stone wall. Mike Gagne, Planning Board administrator, said that in discussion with Correia he was aware of the restrictions on the stone wall and had no plans to remove it in its entirety.

            An Approval Not Required Form A submitted by David Monteiro caused some pushback from Robbins, who questioned if the property owners have the right to reconfigure the two lots in question located at 35 Mattapoisett Neck Road. Represented by Matt Leone of Schneider, Davignon, & Leone, Inc., the plan was to create a smaller lot A and a homestead lot B. But Robbins asked if the properties were in common ownership and, if so, they were merged; separation would not require frontage, which neither lot seems to have.

            Leone said that he had conferred with the Building Department was assured that what was planned was permittable and grandfathered before zoning bylaws were implemented. Robbins said, “If they had been in separate ownership or built on, then they would be grandfathered, but now they can’t meet current frontage.”

            Robbins suggested that Monteiro discuss frontage on the private way abutting the properties to the north. The application was continued until June 7.

            There was also some lively discourse when the board members discussed next steps in implementing Planning Board oversight based on newly adopted FEMA bylaws.

            Robbins said the board needs to develop a form and checklist as advised by FEMA in which the board would ensure that any type of modifications to property from the installation of a fence to the building of a home, work taking place in the revised FEMA flood plain mapping, meets FEMA regulations.

            Douglas Schneider spoke up, saying that he believes projects already received sufficient oversight through the Conservation Commission hearing process and that the Building Department assured that FEMA regulations are being met. He contended that this new layer of governance amounts to a duplication that would end up costing property owners money and time.

            Robbins said he was misunderstanding the role of the Planning Board in this matter, that the state had mandated that another governing body other than the Conservation Commission or the Building Department would perform flood plain oversight. She said, “You may object as a citizen; the debate is interesting, but that doesn’t get us anywhere.” The board will review form drafts in the coming weeks in an effort to be in front of the July 26 bylaw implementation date.

            Member Karen Field again brought up the subject of stone walls, saying language needs to be amended in the special residential development rules and regulations to protect and or conserve existing stone walls. All were in agreement.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board is scheduled for Monday, June 7, at 7:00 pm.

Mattapoisett Planning Board

By Marilou Newell

Seniors Take Step toward Better Facility

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            Not only will the Cushman Community Center get a new walking path this year, it will get a new pavilion provided the Council on Aging’s fundraising efforts are successful. Given the success the COA had raising the money to pay for a walking path, optimism is high.

            In a scheduled appointment with the Select Board during the latter’s May 18 meeting at the Music Hall, Harry Norweb and Dianne Cosman spoke for the Council on Aging in their effort to garner three distinct Select Board approvals related to a project that Norweb estimates will take three to five years to complete in two phases.

            The Select Board approved all three petitions, beginning with the formal approval of the 0.8-mile long, 6-foot wide, asphalt walking path that will loop around the perimeter of the front area grounds between the building and Route 6.

            Norweb reported that three construction bids have been forwarded to McGrail since August 11, and all the funding necessary has been raised including $30,000 in Community Preservation funds and $9,000 donated by friends of the Marion COA and friends of Marion Recreation. Norweb has produced a walking video and stated the COA’s goal is to have the path completed by the end of the calendar year.

            The second phase sought preliminary approval for construction of a pavilion inside the perimeter of the walking path. The pavilion would measure 36 feet by 26 feet and would be used for presentations, entertainment, family gatherings, and other events. To save money, the COA is planning on a prefabricated design, and Norweb said there will be no construction until funds have been raised and a formal approval given by the Select Board. “We need preliminary approval for good-faith fundraising to begin,” he said.

            The third petition is the board’s authorization to pay for general landscaping that will be delayed until the path and pavilion have been completed. The plan is based on low to no maintenance, as plantings will grow tall to mitigate street noise. There will also be several benches located around the walking path.

            Norweb assured the board that the sewer line on the site will in no way interfere with the construction of the path or pavilion.

            “At some point, we need to do something with the parking lot,” said Select Board member John Waterman.

            “The parking lot needs to be addressed,” agreed Town Administrator Jay McGrail.

            Two other appointments were scheduled.

            At the request of Recreation Director Scott Tavares, who could not attend the meeting, the Select Board approved McGrail’s proposal of a three-tier system for establishing fees for the use of town facilities and authorized McGrail to act in special circumstances.

            The Kittansett Club was approved for a change of manager/board of directors, as Steve Mann was introduced to town officials.

            Several appointments were made to fill vacancies on boards, commissions, and committees.

            The Select Board appointed new DPW Director Nathaniel Munafo to represent Marion on the Mattapoisett River Valley Water District Commission and MRV Water Supply Protection Advisory Committee. Select Board member Randy Parker’s ongoing commitment to the MRV will be on a future Select Board agenda.

            Joan Gardner and Jessica Barrett were appointed to the Music Hall Advisory Committee, and Derek Krein was appointed to the Pathway Committee, as recommended by Chair John Rockwell.

            The Select Board voted to ratify a Memorandum of Understanding with the AFSCME Council 93, Local 30, approving a successfully completed contract negotiation with DPW employees. Asked about longevity pay in the new contract, McGrail explained that the town agreed to continue longevity pay in exchange for bi-weekly distribution of pay. “That’s going to save us a lot of money,” said McGrail, noting it is a two-year contract and that the DPW’s longevity pay now matches other unions under contract with the town.

            The May 31 Memorial Day Remembrance ceremony originally planned for Island Wharf will be held at Old Landing off Front Street. McGrail said Front Street will remain open under this scenario.

            The board approved Tabor Academy’s request for Front Street closure between Ryder and Cottage streets for graduation on Friday, June 4, from 10:00 am to 11:30 am.

            The board approved a motion to recognize the Juneteenth state holiday honoring the struggle with and emancipation from slavery. The holiday will be held on Friday, June 18.

            Also approved were the annual water restrictions from June 15 to September 15, without which the town would risk noncompliance for its water withdrawal permit.

            The Select Board will meet five times between Memorial Day and Labor Day, as the board approved a schedule for June 1, June 22, July 13, August 3, and August 24. All meetings will be held at 6:00 pm at the Music Hall. A Water/Sewer Commissioners meeting has not been scheduled.

            While Parker ran unopposed in the May 14 Town Election and retained his seat on the Select Board by a landslide, he will no longer be chairperson. That role was transferred to Norm Hills during a scheduled reorganization of the board. Waterman will serve as vice chair and Parker as clerk.

            The new arrangement led to some unscheduled laughs at the conclusion of the meeting when Parker said, “I hear a motion to adjourn.” Corrected, Parker wound up making the motion instead.

            The next meeting of the Select Board will be a special meeting on Zoom only to be held Wednesday, May 26, at 4:00 pm via Zoom for the purpose of discussion and a vote on water rates.

Marion Select Board

By Mick Colageo

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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There will be an Open House from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm on May 22, rain date May 23, at 355 County Road. See the exhibit, enjoy food, bake sale, raffles, and gift shop.

            People may wonder what kinds of facts you can learn and what kind of artifacts you can find at the Rochester Historical Society Museum. In pictures, you can see the boarding house in Rochester Center that was home to out of town students attending the Rochester Academy. You can follow Rochester’s growth in a series of maps beginning in 1704 which are also available for purchase. In memoirs and articles you can learn that Judah Hathaway (retiring in 1868 from a life at sea and becoming owner of the mill at Hathaway Pond) had the first bathtub in Rochester, maybe to stay surrounded by water, or that bog iron was once plentiful in Rochester’s watery areas and of value. Back to those maps, you can trace road changes, such as Rochester Street becoming Hartley Road.

            Our exhibit, opening on Saturday, May 22 from 10:00 am– 3:00 pm is made up of some of the interesting items donated to or collected by the Rochester Historical Society for the museum over the last 50 or so years. It is supported by the Rochester Cultural Council, a local agency, supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

            In addition to the exhibit, we will be serving lunch, holding a raffle of some amazing items donated by generous local businesses, selling desserts and baked goods, and our Rochester items. We look forward to seeing you.

By Connie Eshbach

Five Marion Students Awarded Scholarships

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The Marion Scholarship and Education Committee has announced its 2021 scholarship awards, and Rachel Fantoni, Jhett Labonte, Katelyn Luong, Abigail McFadyen,and Daphne Poirier were chosen from the large pool of qualified applicants.

            All applicants were required to live in Marion and were asked to submit their academic transcript, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement.

            The scholarships are made possible through the generosity of Marion citizens who donated to the Scholarship Fund throughout the year. Those who are interested in donating to this fund or to the Education Fund, which provides equipment and resources to Sippican School that are not covered by the school’s budget, may send donations to Marion Scholarship and Education Fund, Marion Town House, 2 Spring Street, Marion, MA 02738.

Nelson, Henry Win Planning Board Seats

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            Marion’s Planning Board took on a new look after the May 14 election saw Alanna Nelson and Jonathan Henry voted into two open seats vied for by five candidates, including incumbent Andrew Daniel.

            Henry and Nelson, representing the bookends of experience and new blood, garnered 241 and 245 votes respectively to outdistance Tucker Burr (213), Daniel (207), and Tom Friedman (107) in the town’s only contested race. There was one write-in vote and 116 ballots left blank.

            Asked if she felt more exhilaration or relief at the result, Nelson answered, “Gratitude, because I appreciate the confidence people had in me and I appreciate the way people have opened up…. I feel very grateful for all the time people put in, introduced me, sharing perspectives.”

            A former four-term selectman, Henry brings decades of experience in municipal government and readily admits he entered the race at the 11th hour out of concern that the seats might not be filled. Now he begins a three-year term on a board he had never served on until now.

            “It was holding the Planning Board up, not getting that business done, so I said I’m not going to, you know, ‘Hottest place in hell is reserved for him who is idle in a crisis,'” said Henry, paraphrasing 12th century Italian poet Dante Alighieri. “I’m glad to do something.”

            For Nelson, the what-I-would-do thoughts of an outsider take on a whole new weight with the result and the experience of being sworn-in by Town Clerk Lissa Magauran.

            “I feel like I have a lot of homework to do over the weekend to make sure I can go to Monday and really be as on top of things,” said Nelson, referencing the scheduled May 17 Planning Board meeting. “That’s one of the things that I learned over this process; it’s kind of like sailing. You can never do enough of it, you learn every time that you go out and, so, just like when you sail, you’re observant and you try to be ready for it. That’s kind of the way I’m going to approach the Planning Board.

            “It’s funny, the analogy, because it’s like one of those things you keep on learning, and maybe that’s why it appeals to me,” Nelson continued. “The winds are different every time, and you do your best to be prepared for it.”

            The infinite waters and wrinkles in cases presented require dedication and discipline and, at the same time, a mind unfettered by expectations.

            “And you need to remember where you’re going; that’s the other part. You’ve got to stay focused on where you want to go,” said Nelson. “Fortunately, we’ve got some good guidance on that in terms of what’s been set up in the town so far, so we can follow that.”

            Motivated in part by potential property interests on a personal level, Nelson said she began attended Planning Board Zoom meetings in early January. “It’s helpful to know what are the topics that the town is looking for, so I’ve been lurking for a while,” she said.

            By all accounts, Friday’s turnout was a disappointment, numbering only 565 voters. Polls at the Cushing Community Center closed at 7:00 pm instead of the traditional 8:00 pm, and two bewildered would-be voters arrived during the aftermath only to learn of the truncated schedule. The Select Board had approved the change and the town had published the change. It was also a slow day for write-in votes, as a total of 24 were spread thinly across seven elections.

            With 494 votes, Select Board Chair Randy Parker ran unopposed and begins a new three-year term. The race saw six write-in votes and 65 ballots left blank, as were incumbents George “TJ” Walker (426 votes against four write-ins and 135 blank) to the Board of Assessors, Brad Gordon (470 votes against five write-ins and 90 blank) as town moderator, and John Howard (431 votes against three write-ins and 131 blank) to the Board of Health.

            Marion School Committee incumbents Mary Beauregard (414 votes), Michelle Smith (402), and April Rios (394) ran unopposed and were re-elected, Smith and Rios to three-year terms. Because Beauregard was appointed in the days following the 2020 election after a write-in winner declined the seat, her term will expire in 2023. According to Magauran, the appointment of an elected official expires at the end of the current term. Then that appointee would have to be elected for the next term. There were three write-ins in the 2021 race with 482 ballots left blank.

            Deborah Ewing (428 votes) will fill the seat vacated by Open Space Acquisition Committee Vice Chair Alan Harris, who chose not to run for re-election. There were two write-ins and 135 ballots left blank.

Marion Town Election

By Mick Colageo

Marion Democratic Town Committee

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Registered Democrats in Marion will hold a caucus on June 17 to elect Delegates and Alternates to the 2021 Massachusetts Democratic State Convention. The caucus will take place virtually. Registered Marion Democrats who wish to participate may join the Zoom Meeting: us02web.zoom.us/j/89977386439?pwd=VlM1dmFxRW92bmo4QUVKdkFRTHJadz09

Meeting ID: 899 7738 6439

Passcode: 881795

One tap mobile

+19292056099,,89977386439#,,,,*881795# US (New York)

            This year’s state convention will be held on September 25 (location forthcoming), where Democrats from across the state will come together to adopt a Party platform, discuss Party business, and celebrate our successes as we prepare for upcoming elections. The event will take place in-line with all federal, state, and local health guidelines and will include a virtual option for participation.

            The caucus is open to all registered and pre-registered Democrats of Marion. Pre-registered Democrats who will be 16 by June 15, 2021 will be allowed to participate and run as a Delegate or Alternate. Marion can elect three Delegates and three Alternates to the Convention. (Delegates/Alternates must include male and female participants.)

            Youth, minorities, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals who are not elected as a Delegate or Alternate may apply to be an Add-on Delegate at the caucus or at www.massdems.org by August 6.

            Those interested in getting involved with the Marion Democratic Town Committee should contact Sharon Matzek at 603-759-9287 or visit our Facebook website.