ZBA Approves ‘Big’ Plumb Corner Development Sign

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            The Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals voted on January 14 to permit Plumb Corner, LLC to display a temporary sign bigger than what the bylaw allows, but not quite as big as the developer had hoped.

            The original request was for an 8- by 4- foot sign, exceeding the bylaw’s 9 square-foot maximum by 23 square feet, but the developer settled on an 18 square-foot, 6- by 3-foot sign displaying the realtor’s name, contact info, rendering of a sample unit, and layout of the 55+ residential development. The sign will be 17 feet from the road next to the proposed entrance, up Rounseville Road from the Town Hall facing some woods.

            ZBA member Richard Cutler recused himself from the agenda item, but he spoke on behalf of the First Congregational Church of Rochester. He said the matter would have to go before the Rochester Historic District Commission, which Town Counsel Blair Bailey confirmed.

            The size wasn’t an issue for ZBA member Davis Sullivan, who said, “It doesn’t seem unreasonable.” However, Cutler maintained that the sign was “out of place for that area,” then added, “But it’s the ZBA’s decision.”

            ZBA member Kirby Gilmore wondered how much of a reduction in size the developer might accept, which was ultimately an 18 square-foot sign.

            “I like that, okay,” said Gilmore.

            Arancio still thought the sign would be “a little out of place with size,” while Davis considered it “a good compromise.”

            The special permit for the oversized sign was approved, but the board placed conditions on approval, such as no other realty signs may be displayed at the site, the size is limited to 3 by 6 feet, and the sign must be removed by March 1, 2024, with final approval pending Historic District Commission approval.

            The vote was unanimous, 5-0.

            The next meeting of the Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals is scheduled for January 28 at 7:00 pm.

Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals

By Jean Perry

Gordon T. Helme

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Gordon T. Helme, 84, of Rochester, passed away Saturday, January 23, 2021 at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston following a long illness. He was the husband of Elizabeth L. “Betty” (Kouba) Helme with whom he shared 56 years of marriage.

            Born in Blackburn, Lancashire, England, son of the late Frank and May (Pierce) Helme, he immigrated to the United States with his parents at the end of World War II in 1947 and has resided in Rochester since 2003.

            Mr. Helme proudly served in an enlisted capacity with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve from 1954 to 1961 and as a commissioned officer in the Supply Corps of the U.S. Navy from 1961 to 1971.

            He graduated from New Bedford High School in 1955. He earned a B.S. in Textile Technology from the New Bedford Institute of Technology in 1959, an M.B.A. from the University of MA at Dartmouth in 1979 and an M.A. in Rehabilitation Counseling and Psychology from Assumption College in 1981.

            Mr. Helme had a successful and rewarding career in Federal Civil Service beginning with the Veterans Administration Regional Office in Providence as a Benefits Delivery Specialist, then worked with the U.S. Small Business Administration in Boston as the Regional Veterans Affairs Officer for the New England region until retiring in 1996. In the private sector, he worked for Eastman Kodak Company in Tennessee, the Brunswick Corp. Research Facility in Newton and worked with the U.S. Job Corps Program as a Recruiter and Placement Specialist for Bristol County.

            Gordon was a volunteer for the VA Medical Center in Providence and the VA Clinic in New Bedford for many years receiving numerous awards for his service. He served as a SHINE Counselor, Veterans’ Representative and Board of Directors member for the Rochester Council on Aging. He was the recipient of Rochester’s Man of the Year Award in 2012, a member of the Freetown Lion’s Club, the Aleppo Shriners, a Past Master Mason of the Star in the East Lodge and served as Chaplain of the Boy Scouts Troop 3. He was a communicant of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church and served as a Eucharistic Minister for 47 years. Gordon loved reading, studying history, the ocean and sailing and was fond of animals. Most of all, he loved spending time with his family, whom he adored.

            Surviving in addition to his wife Betty, are his daughters, Lynn Eddleston and her husband Arthur of Rochester and Robin Chaves and her husband John of Lakeville; his grandchildren, Lauren Stoye and her husband Brian of East Taunton and Nicholas Chaves of Boston; and his beloved dog, Clyde.

            Visiting hours: Thursday, January 28, 2021 from 4-7 pm in the Waring-Sullivan Home at Fairlawn, 180 Washington St., Fairhaven. Funeral service and burial with full military honors are private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 169 Belleville Rd., New Bedford, MA 02745.

            For online tributes, please visit: www.waring-sullivan.com

Richard C. “Ricky” Gifford

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Richard C. “Ricky” Gifford, 67, of Wareham, died Saturday, January 23, 2021 at his home unexpectedly. He was the husband of Paula F. (Towne) Gifford.

            Born in Wareham, the son of the late Carlton Chace Gifford and Beatrice (Jacobson) Wilson, he graduated from Old Rochester Regional High School, Class of 1974. Mr. Gifford was a wholesale accounts representative for Advance Auto Parts for 30 years.

            Along with his brother Robert, Mr. Gifford co-owned Gifford Brothers Racing.  Together, they raced their late model car at Seekonk Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and many other racetracks throughout New England.

            He is survived by his wife, Paula of Wareham; his children, Becky Gifford of Wareham and Christopher Gifford of Harmony, NC; his brothers, Robert J. Gifford and James Gifford both of Wareham; his sisters, Andrea Wetmore of Stuart, FL, Diane Perkins of Marion, Carla Caplin of Cherryfield, ME, and Lisa Perez of Hialeah, FL; his step-brother, Ricky Bessom of East St. Johnsbury, VT; his grandchildren, Chase, Caileen and Carly Colon and Willow Gifford; and many nieces and nephews.

            Relatives and friends are invited to visit on Thursday, Jan. 28th at the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 2599 Cranberry Hwy. (Rt. 28), Wareham from 5 – 7 pm. Appropriate COVID-19 protocol will be observed including the use of face masks, social distancing and wait times in line due to temporary limited capacity. Those attending will be asked to pay their respects and depart to allow the next guests to enter the funeral home. Funeral services and burial on Friday will be private.

Sippican Mobilizing to Bring Back K-2

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            The Marion School Committee has not yet followed in the Mattapoisett School Committee’s footsteps, which on January 11 unanimously voted to bring back Grades K-2 to school on a full-time basis beginning January 19. But significant steps have been taken so that Marion can decide to follow suit.

            Sippican School Principal Marla Sirois presented a plan during the Marion School Committee’s January 19 meeting that outlined what would take place for Grades K-2 to return to school on a full-time basis. Sirois said she was able to navigate the plan with school nurse Meg Allen to accommodate Grades K, 1, and 2 without disturbing Grades 3-6.

            With 32 children in Kindergarten, 43 first-graders, and 50 second-graders, a phased program can be implemented by moving children to other rooms, including access to part of the library. The 43 first-graders would move to the band room and the library, while 50 second-grade students would relocate as follows: Those in Room 118 would move to Room 107, those in Room 121 would move to Rooms 123 and 122, which would be combined via a removable dividing wall, and likewise, those in Room 120 would move to Rooms 126 and 128.

            “The library is a large move and one I was hoping not to make,” said Sirois, explaining that the mobile book cart keeps all books accessible.

            The phased approach began with assessing needs, including space, moves, tech, and staffing. Subsequent phases would include moving lab space and YMCA before- and after-school care, converting the library, moving partitions, relocating the Title 1 room, preparing the band room, adding desks to Kindergarten classes, moving teacher/student spaces to larger spaces, and removing tables in favor of desks in the cafeteria.

            Sirois laid out two options, one that would put Grades K-2 back in school five days per week at the cost of recording classes for students in quarantine, the other bringing them back four days per week with the ability to serve those 60 quarantined students.

            “I think it’s important for us to acknowledge families that have chosen other learning models for whatever those reasons might be,” she said.

            Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson told the committee that the plan would need time. Its initial support would result in making a calendar off of the outlined phases, so, at the right time, with support from key stakeholders, the decision to approve such a plan ultimately remains the committee’s decision to implement.

            Doing so will require after-school and weekend work to move pieces. Nelson recommended making the preparations while maintaining the hybrid learning model, then pivoting to increase in-person learning time with the School Committee’s support.

            “This is an initial conversation,” said Nelson, thanking Sirois for creating the proposal.

            Marion School Committee Chairperson Michelle Smith said, “Looking at the plan actually gave me a little more ease.”

            Committee member Nichole Daniel asked if a return would result in a faster learning pace. Sirois said no. “I see the ability to be with more practice for a given skill like we would have done in a normal year. The practice that parents are working with kids on hybrid out days will now be done by teachers on hybrid-in days.”

            More review, more practice, longer time spent on the same material is what Sirois envisions.

            “We’re going to be able to provide consistency for them. Not that the parent can’t, but let’s be realistic,” said Sirois, noting that students cannot engage in partner-reading during a hybrid-out day. “We would be able to put that curriculum of depth back in place.”

            Member April Rios asked if plans are underway to address those who will wish to go from hybrid to full remote due to the change. “I have thought about that.… There might have to be a shift in our remote teachers,” said Sirois, who has resisted larger class sizes but admitted it might have to be on the table.

            The committee voted to support moving forward so that the school can position itself. Nelson said he hopes to have essential health officials to join the next meeting to discuss further.

            The committee voted to approve Sirois’ plans to address literacy in compliance with the Student Opportunity Act. The three-year plan meant to close academic gaps and create action plans to monitor progress was temporarily shelved by COVID-19 until the late fall.

            The committee discussed DESE’s new regulations on structured time for learning; indications are more specific guidance will follow in the coming weeks. “I think it’s important not to make changes so that we’re not implementing things that are going to change,” said Sirois. “It makes the most sense for me to wait a couple of weeks. I think we have to get the first graders up and running before we make any big changes…. I think we need to wait for that guidance because every time they say that it’s big.”

            Smith reported that input and feedback had been received regarding the FY22 draft budget. “We were happy with what we presented to the town…. I’m pretty pleased with the process at this point,” she said.

            Committee member Jody Dickerson asked that the documentation be forwarded to the Finance Committee. “This is the most detailed budget I have seen from the School Committee in a lot of years, so I want to commend you on the job that you have done,” said Dickerson.

            Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber said that ORR is waiting on news about state aid to know how to assess its budget.

            The committee approved the Student Handbook revision outlining the fee schedule to support device maintenance. Sirois said she prefaced that addition with language for the parents to better understand the intention behind the new fees.

            In his Financial Report, Barber said that through December 31, 2020, the ORR School District used 86 percent of its operating budget for student learning and $383,000 remains unencumbered. He said that the second half of the school year money is typically needed to cover facility-related costs. He also thanked Food Service Director Jill Hennessy for doing a great job despite the loss of staff. ORR has lost two cooks to retirement and a speech pathologist.

            In the Central Office Administrator’s Report, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Dr. Janell Pearson-Campbell reported on a January 11 professional development day and thanked her assistant Kim Reed.

            Director of Student Services Craig Davidson said Kindergarten report cards are expected February 4-5. There will be a 6:00 pm information session for elementary school parents focusing on online learning. Preschool assessment is scheduled for January 27 at Sippican School and on March 10 at Rochester Memorial. There will be a Childhood Learning Council meeting from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Tuesday, January 26.

            Nelson reported on the Anti-Racism Subcommittee, noting that it had been divided into two subgroups, one looking at a survey design for student feedback and the other developing a common language. The subcommittee also heard from a consultant and is in a negotiation phase for that person’s services.

            Nelson offered heartfelt condolences to Facilities Director Gene Jones on the recent loss of his wife, Peggy.

            In her Principal’s Report, Sirois thanked ORCTV for its Christmas Wishes presentation and welcomed back music teacher Hannah Moore. She also thanked everyone who made it possible for Sippican School to help 18 families and 45 children in Marion during the holidays.

            The School Committee went into executive session, only coming out to adjourn.

            The next meeting of the Marion School Committee is scheduled for February 24. The ORR School Committee was to meet on January 20, and the Joint School Committee will meet on March 11.

Marion School Committee

By Mick Colageo

Cornelius “Neil” Cooper

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Cornelius “Neil” Cooper, age 79, of Marion passed away peacefully Sunday, January 24th, 2021 at home in Marion MA.

            He was the widower of the late Margaret A. “Peggy” (Dunham) Cooper with whom he shared 54 years of marriage. He was engaged to be married to Judie Kleven.

            Born in Patterson NJ, the son of the late Harry and Julia (Bender) Cooper, he lived in Mattapoisett most of his life.

            Mr. Cooper was formerly employed by AP Exhaust Products and was the owner of Cooper’s Muffler and Brake shop in North Dartmouth before retiring.

            Mr. Cooper served in the 82nd airborne division of the US Army in the 1950s.

            He was always willing to lend a helping hand to friends, family and neighbors. He was known for his generous spirit and gentle kindness.

            Survivors include his fiancée, Judie Kleven; a daughter, Christy Guillotte and her husband Ronnie Guillotte of Wareham, a son, Clint Cooper and his wife Megan of Mattapoisett; 2 sisters, Judy Reitsma and Jill Burns; a brother, Tom Cooper; 4 grandsons, Tom DeBortoli and his fiancé Julie Ingham, Samuel Cooper, Henry Cooper, Colin Cooper; a granddaughter, Madalyn Cooper; 4 great grandchildren, Aaliyah Ingham, Emily DeBortoli, Ceri DeBortoli, and Brieann DeBortoli; and several nieces and nephews.

            His private Funeral Service will be held later in the spring when it is safe to gather and celebrate his life.

Paul H. Alves

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Paul H. Alves, 81, of New Bedford passed away peacefully Thursday, January 21, 2021.

            He was the husband of Carolyn (Nunes) Alves.

            Born in New Bedford, son of the late Gilbert and Kathleen (Hawthorne) Alves, he lived in Mattapoisett most of his life.

            Paul graduated from Fairhaven High School before earning his Bachelor’s degree from Bridgewater State College. He then earned a Master’s Degree and taught 5th grade in the New Bedford Public School System. He was a musician, and a drummer for the Tri-county symphony, and the Mattapoisett Band. He collected stamps and coins, and was an avid Red Sox fan.

            Paul served proudly in the U.S. Army.

            Survivors include his wife; his stepchildren, Robert Tracy and his wife Karen, of Somerset, and Sandy Tracy of Mattapoisett; and a grandson Jackson.

            His services will be private.

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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Today, many of the younger generations know phones as an essential item to carry with them to use as cameras, text, and store all the essential aspects of life. A landline phone, particularly one with a dial, is an antique to be puzzled over. However, older residents of Rochester remember not just landlines with easily accessible human operators but also party lines. My mother told stories of calling home from college in Boston to let her father know when to pick her up from the train in Bridgewater. The operator would say that her father was at the Mill, but she’d make sure that he got the message.

            A party line was a phone line shared by many households, each of which had its own ring. If you picked up at the first ring (something we did as kids visiting our grandmother), you would be told to hang up. You had to see if it would be two short rings or a short and a long, or some other variation to avoid eavesdropping on a neighbor’s conversation.

            Rochester’s first phone system was set up by the proprietor of McGilvaray’s Grocery Store at 240 Mattapoisett Road in the mid-19th century. He strung wires from his store to his most frequent customers’ homes so they could call in their orders. (Sounds like the original online shopping). The building pictured alongside this article is at the intersection of Snipatuit Road and North Avenue. Here was the office of the Rochester Telephone Exchange from the early 1900s to 1950. In the front room, operators sat at their stations connecting callers. Some of the lines had up to 24 customers.

            The phone company is only part of the building’s exciting history. The original owner was John King, and in 1830 it was a Methodist Meetinghouse. By 1832, it began its life as a store. For many years it contained a general store with a series of owners. It also was home to the North Rochester Post Office for some years during the 1800s. In 1889, the large building was used for a Rotation Town Meeting in an attempt to appease outlying residents who complained about the long trip to Rochester Center.

            In addition to King, some of the others who operated the store at 289 North Avenue were Hiram Waldron, Albert Reed, and George Allen. When Allen owned the building, he converted it into a home with the store in the basement having a direct entry from the street. After 1957, the telephone exchange moved to another building on North Avenue closer to the New Bedford Waterworks.

            Barbara Besse and her family have lived there for many years. After 1957, she operated an antique store there into the 1970s.

By Connie Eshbach

A Soul’s Refreshment – Art

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            Looking for a way to shed the pandemic blues? Tired of being stuck, unable to travel, and feeling trapped due to a lack of freedom of movement? Well, there is a cure, and it’s called art. And no artistic institution offers more per square inch of gallery space than the Marion Art Center. As I’ve often said, “It is small but mighty.”

            A large part of the “might” that is the MAC is the caliber of artists that comprise the membership. And so it is always a grand experience to take in the annual Winter Members’ Show on exhibition now through February 26.

            Entering the first-floor gallery space is like being a kid in a candy shop with visual goodies hanging from every wall or positioned on pedestals. Among those delicious art pieces, one will find not only watercolors, oils, and acrylics but also carvings, woodworking, and fabric art. In commenting to one artist that it seemed as though the MAC continues to evolve from one show to the next, offering a broad spectrum of artistic expression, the response was that art itself is shifting and changing as it always has done. Art reflects the moment the artist is living in, a reaction to that moment, and quite possibly hopes and fears. All that one can find in this show.

            Alanna Nelson is a fabric artist who understands that people’s ideas of what art can be are changing. Her exhibit piece is titled “The Glove.” She explained that one of the activities she joined after moving to the area is sailing. The glove is one she used while pursuing that passion. She has taken that glove with all the joyful memories it conjures in her mind and positioned it over a piece of blue handmade felt.

            “I work a lot in wool, raw wool,” Nelson explained, working the material until it reaches a satisfying texture and shape. After repeated soakings and drying, she achieved a “wave-like” texture to the wool felt. “You’re never sure what you get when making the felt,” Nelson shared, but when she saw the wave-like curves, she knew where the glove belonged. The two are merged, forever a sailing glove moving across waves.

            Nelson lived in Italy for many years, including six in Rome and five in Milan, where she was exposed to exquisite fabrics and wools. While there, she created quilts and delved into embroidery.

            Russel Saunders is a photographer, first and foremost. But it takes a creative eye and imagination to create an image others will respond to, an artist’s eye. And it takes patience to capture the right image. Saunders’ large canvass now on view in the MAC’s second-floor gallery required patience as he waited along the shore of Ogunquit, Maine. “Nothing much was happening, and there were a lot of children splashing around,” he recalled. But his patience was rewarded when, suddenly, the seabirds were marching around, the children were out of the frame, and the lighting was correct. “March of the Piping Plovers” was born.

            Saunders then takes the best images, or in some cases commissioned images, and reproduces them on fine art canvasses. Some finished works are substantial, as is the case with the plovers; the piece measures 55 by 40 inches. The resolution for such reproductions has to be extraordinarily high, in this case, a whopping 20 million pixels. He said that by wrapping the canvass around the oak frame, he achieves a three-dimensional effect. “It’s never still.”

            Saunders said of art today: “People are getting more in touch with their higher feelings.”

            Filipe Miguel has always been an artist, but his career path took a side road into the world of tennis, teaching the sport for 25 years before he returned to creating art. His paying gig now, if you will, is as an art teacher at Barnstable High School, where he finds a very supportive administration and community. After completing his education at UMass Dartmouth and the University of Connecticut as an art major, he said that he intended to teach at the university level. He ended up teaching tennis until recently. Now it’s all art all the time, both at work and at home.

            Miguel said he is always pushing the boundaries of his creative output. He described an installation of a bedroom covered in cement that was exhibited at the Fuller Art Museum. But like many creative types, when the exhibit closed, he didn’t simply throw away the bits and pieces; he conserved them for later use. One such item, a pillow, became his work of art titled “My Pillow,” now at the MAC in the first-floor gallery. The piece features a pillow embedded with tennis balls and a pack of cigarettes. “Some people have called my art abstract; I don’t feel that way,” he said. “My works have a narrative in them, a story.”

            That is certainly true of the second piece on display in the second-floor gallery titled “Adjustment Factor.” Many will identify with the meaning behind the word “adjust,” the letters “FA,” and the numbers “150”— it all relates to the daily challenges faced by those dealing with diabetes.

            Miguel hopes the wall piece, which is textural both in appearance and meaning, will help people understand that diabetes impacts the whole person from physical to mental health issues. He also wants to shed light on the politics, policies, and pharmacy industry’s economic structures. “There are a lot of layers to this. People depend on medications to survive; it’s monetized by the medical industries,” he said. Miguel’s intent was to create a group of pieces that work together, bringing this theme to light.

            The work itself is comprised of Styrofoam, burlap, glues, and resins. “It’s a process that requires some alchemy,” Miguel said. Some of the ingredients have an aroma, he said, which adds to the experience.

            “Art, in general, is a cathartic practice; it’s emotional, personal,” Miguel mused, adding that it can be especially true if the theme is one of health. Going back to the “My Pillow” piece and its origins as part of a bedroom installation, Miguel said, “It was an entire bedroom, a strange child’s bedroom about the tooth fairy not leaving a dime under the pillow— dreams made into artwork.”

            Hugh Kelly works in stone or, should I say, stones. He commiserated that when taking a walk along a beach, he is always looking down for a stone he simply must have to add to his collection at home. But the stones that he carves are not those found along the shore. “I carve alabaster, marble sometimes, or soapstone.” For the MAC exhibit, Kelly is showing two pieces, one of which is black chlorite quartz carved into a charming fish. “The stone tells you what it wants to be,” he said. Kelly uses a combination of hand tools and electric drills but noted that the most important part of stone carving is the sanding, which is all done by hand.

            Kelly and his wife and fellow exhibitor Donna both have taken lessons in clay but abandoned that artistic track for stone, in his case, while Donna moved on to acrylics. She is exhibiting two still life paintings at the MAC show.

            Donna discussed an artistic journey that has found her studying nearby at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln and as far away as California. She said that she has been painting for years, but when her children were little confined it to “once they were in bed.” She calls painting “a lifelong hobby” that she believes is more important now than ever before. “We are so confined.”

            How do two artists coexist under the same roof? For this couple, it’s been easy. “We’ll be married 62 years on Groundhog Day!” Donna cheerfully exclaimed. She said they appreciate each other’s artistic endeavors. “We are together but separate.”

            Liz Howland’s fabric pieces are not only works of art; they are wearable works of art. Howland explained the process of making Kantha cloth, which employs layers of repurposed saris quilted together to make quilts and blankets. Howland takes these large pieces and repurposes them again into jackets and pouches.

            “India is a colorful country,” Howland began, “so the saris are colorful.” But the saris possess much more than beauty, she believes. “The saris have positive energy in them; they have lived a life and then become something new but carry that energy forward.

            “They have a special soul to them.” By repurposing the fabrics, she said, “it keeps the energy moving.” That energy is on view on the second floor of the gallery, standing like a mother, exuding wisdom and kindness.

            There will be a virtual reception for the show to be held on Friday, January 29, from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Contact marionartcenter.org for registration details and learn more about these artists and others whose works are on display.

By Marilou Newell

MRC Questions Drag on Aquaculture Licensing

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            Marion Harbormaster Isaac Perry and Deputy Harbormaster/Shellfish Officer Adam Murphy have their work cut out.

            In the aftermath of Shea Doonan’s pulled aquaculture license, the two have worked countless hours cleaning up Doonan’s former gear and product. But they cannot bring closure with a new licensee because the town’s Board of Selectmen wants a reset on rules and regulations before its members will consider candidates to take over the site. So reported Perry and Murphy to the Marion Marine Resources Commission during the latter’s January 18 Zoom meeting.

            The applicants for the site have been notified. “They’re obviously not too happy about that,” said Murphy, noting the timeline has all but ruled out a new license holder capitalizing in 2021.

            It cost $11,000 to clean up Doonan’s sites.

            “When landing the shellfish, they’re required to call us and report,” said Murphy. “Shea Doonan was a perfect example…. He never reported a single thing. It was a shock what was out there and the disarray it was in…. I’d like to give my recommendation from other towns on what seems to work before we put the cart ahead of the horse here, and I’m in the same mess again.”

            In a previous meeting, the Board of Selectmen asked for research on other towns, some of which require aquaculture applicants to post a bond in case of such an event as what happened in Doonan’s case so the town would be guaranteed the necessary money to perform a cleanup. Perry explained that there are differences in aquaculture licensing practices from Wellfleet to Rhode Island. One potential tweak in the regulations would deem the product to be considered part of the gear for the purpose of pulling it out of the water on a timely basis.

            “I see two big things, what I believe they’re looking to get out of this,” said Perry, reporting on his meeting with the selectmen. “Some type of bond,” and secondly, an increase in the annual license fee. Presently, Marion charges a state-mandated fee of $25/acre; since Marion awards half-acre sites, that amount translates into $12.50 per year for the mooring permit under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 91, Section 10A.

            “I’m sure there’s a lot of other things we’ll look at, but those are the two big-ticket items,” said Perry, who submitted an invoice to the Board of Selectmen for the Doonan site cleanup. “We’re waiting on the decision if that invoice is going to be sent.”

            MRC Chairman Vin Malkoski restated the MRC’s opinion that the invoice should be sent and asked Perry and Murphy why a proposed increase in fees. Murphy said that much of the work performed comes out of the Harbormaster’s budget, including site visits by agencies.

            “It’s basically to offset the amount of effort,” said Murphy, noting that the 2021 season will be more expensive with predator nets for birds. “There’s a lot more things coming down the pike that are going to take a lot of time,” he said.

            The delay and uncertainty didn’t sit well with member Scott Cowell, who felt that the local government is holding the applicants hostage. “Especially after this year when the industry has taken such a hit … I feel they should issue the permits, and the people that have them have to abide by them,” he said. “Right now, they should be ordering their seed for February.”

            “It’s almost too late at this point,” said Perry.

            Member Toby Burr asked if bonds are retroactive to existing licenses, but Perry said it’s all in the conversation stage right now. Murphy added that new regulations would not hold up existing license holders in good standing. “This isn’t going to affect them. The Board of Selectmen wants to grandfather them,” said Murphy. “Those existing sites can function as they have been. I’m going to send them all a letter on what we can expect for the 2021 season. Once we revise the regulations, we’re going to let them know.”

            In light of the questions, Perry suggested that the MRC write the selectmen a letter asking for more specific concerns to guide the review and revision process more effectively.

            The next regular meeting of the MRC is set for February 22, but the members voted to meet on February 8 to discuss aquaculture regulations. Murphy will email the MRC with examples of what other towns are doing.

            Perry also reported that Officer Dave Wilson completed his field training with the Marion Police Department. Last week was Wilson’s first with the Harbormasters office, and he still needs to take his shellfish course. “He’s getting a lot of on-the-job training,” said Perry.

            Perry also told the MRC that he has completed commercial regulations but has not submitted them. Malkoski agreed with Perry that a face-to-face meeting is better, “But we need to get [the regulations] to the Board of Selectmen.” Perry indicated he would get that information to the selectmen this week.

            Under the Harbor Management and Capital Projects report, Perry expects to have a rendering of the proposed new Harbormaster’s facility from the architect over the next two weeks. He reported working on the FY22 budget and said he is looking to add another $1,000 to the motor-vehicle line item. Perry expected to meet this week with the Finance Committee with a plan to get a budget to the MRC by the weekend.

            The Atlantis Drive renting situation, said Perry, has become difficult. The Harbormaster is storing a patrol boat at the facility formerly owned by the town. “I foresee us without a maintenance facility for a few years until the town can get all those pieces,” he said. “In the short term, we’ll make it work; we always do.”

            Town Meeting approved an appropriation to cover the loss of an outboard motor on the town’s patrol boat, but Perry said the engine likely wouldn’t become available until March. The new motor will go on another single-engine workboat that remains in service at Island Wharf, and the engine from that boat would be then transferred to the patrol boat.

            The next meeting of the Marion Marine Resources Commission is scheduled for February 8.

Marion Marine Resources Commission

By Mick Colageo

Masks Stay on after Inoculation

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            The Mattapoisett Board of Health met with public health nurses Emily Field and Amanda Stone on January 13 and discussed the latest COVID-19 vaccine distribution information. All of the news was sobering.

            As of January 13, the total number of COVID-19 cases in Mattapoisett stood at 293 with a small percentage of hospitalizations, said Stone. But to the question of the number of deaths, Stone said that depended on “interpretation.” She explained that between three and six cases could be classified as resulting from COVID-19, but that if pre-existing, life-ending diseases were also present, the other illness could also be the cause of death.

            Field said that, while Phase 1 rollout was underway with the vaccine being administered to first responders from Marion, Mattapoisett, Rochester, and Wareham, the rollout had not been smooth. She said that, according to the state’s guidelines, distribution centers were required to register at least 200 people to receive the vaccination; thus, the multi-town approach was used. Field also said that there was no firm timeline for anyone else included in Phase 1.

            While first responders and what are called “COVID-facing” healthcare workers are part of the first phase, others include long-term care facilities, congregate care facilities, home-based healthcare workers, and non-COVID-facing healthcare workers. Phase 1 is planned to last at least until the beginning of February. However, Stone spoke in cautionary terms. “The Board of Health has been approved to store vaccine, but rollout has been slower than anticipated.”

            Stone, whose retirement is scheduled for the end of January, said that public health departments are waiting to learn when more vaccine will be available for the balance of Phase 1 and that the amount of vaccine had yet to be announced. Field noted that it may become a “social equity” issue and that “we’ll have to consider who will receive vaccine based on the amount received .… The inoculation process has not been solidified.” Field also said that the state Department of Public Health had pushed Phase 1 into March.

            When asked about current case numbers in the community, Field responded that there were 23 active cases. BOH member Ken Dawicki asked when and if the total number of cases would be “reset.” Stone said that data collection was critical to understanding the disease process and that, “We are still in the middle of this.”

            Both nurses spoke to the overwhelming time demands of contact tracing and that it was possible for some people to simply fall through the cracks. They noted that for each confirmed case, there were many more people who may have been infected and that contact tracing relied on people being forthcoming with the names of those with whom they may have come in contact. “It depends on what people are willing to share,” said Stone.

            Field spoke to what happens after vaccination has taken place. She said that it takes three to four weeks for the body to respond to vaccines and that before and after both planned injections, precautions will remain in place for an indefinite period. Stone added it remains unknown when immunity will develop. “[Vaccines] help prevent symptoms, but you can (possibly) still spread the virus; we just don’t know the length of immunity.” She said it was possible to get sick 90 days after receiving the vaccine. Because of the unknowns associated with this virus, continuing adherence to pre-vaccine safety precautions such as wearing masks and maintaining social distancing will be necessary, they said.

            When asked if the messaging from public health entities will change, given that precautions will be extended indefinitely, the nurses said it would be necessary to continue to educate the public. “The town will need to make sure guidelines are met,” Stone stated.

            Moderna produces the vaccine that has been administered locally.

            Other matters discussed were the updating of regulations for hotels and motels. Kayla Davis, Board of Health agent, reported having worked with a local motel owner and discussed such matters as deep cleaning, bed bug extermination and monitoring, annual inspections, and whether or not pets and service animals are permittable. Also discussed was smoking, which will not be allowed in motel units but may be allowed at a smoking station away from the units’ entrances. The members will review and address it at a future meeting.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Health is scheduled for February 10 at 10:00 am.

Mattapoisett Board of Health

By Marilou Newell