Coming before the Mattapoisett Planning Board on November 16, formally for the first time, was Douglas Schneider of Schneider, Davignon, and Leone, Inc. to undergo a site plan review for a proposed two-lot subdivision at the end of Park Lane. The previous discussion regarding this proposal had been informational and informal.

            Representing property owners Andre Rieksts, Scott Atkinson, and Margo Wilson-Atkinson, Schneider explained that the lots would be created from a 15-acre site on the northwest side of the existing public roadway, Park Lane. He said that a cul-de-sac that allows for an 80-foot turning radius would create the needed frontage and that the new residences would be serviced by public water and sewer. Schneider said that while much of the acreage was wetlands, there was more than sufficient uplands for the proposed lots. He also confirmed that the Conservation Commission had not yet evaluated the project.

            Board member Janice Robbins questioned a waiver Schneider sought that would bypass the need to provide drainage calculations. She noted that, given the elevation drop from the historic railroad bed, the roadway extension not only crossed wetlands but might create drainage issues. Robbins asked for a peer-review consultant to review stormwater management engineering. “We can provide drainage calculations. There’ll be a catchment area for the roadway runoff, but our options are limited for drainage on this project,” Schneider conceded.

            Robbins also questioned who owned the railroad easements, along with what she said were issues with a private party extending a public roadway. “I don’t know if we have jurisdiction in this matter,” she said, asking board administrator Mary Crain if town counsel would be weighing in on that matter. Crain confirmed that would be the case.

            Schneider countered that most public roadways are easements and asserted that the Planning Board has the authority to approve the requested extension. Robbins said that the roadway issue is not a subdivision issue. She said the ramification for the town would be, “Who has the responsibility if it falls apart? It isn’t going to be your clients; it’s going to be the town.”

            There was further discussion regarding drainage when abutter Brian Swift asked if water now running from the east and north would be controlled by a retention basin. Schneider said, “Water flows down the railroad easement and then on my clients’ property.” He noted that a culvert would be built to manage the water on the railroad bed. He also stated that there is a large swamp near Swift’s property.

            “This is way beyond my expertise,” Robbins commented, again asking for a peer review as well as a site visit. A site visit was planned for November 22 at 10:00 am, and the site plan review was continued until December 7.

            In other matters, Eric Las of Beals and Thomas returned to the Planning Board regarding the solar array planned off Randall Lane. However, in the absence of securing a peer-review consultant, there was little to discuss. Crain said that she had spoken with the conservation agent so that one peer-review consultant could be hired for both boards. Las said a new set of plans had been developed and asked that the consultant be given those once one is selected. The site plan review was continued until December 7.

            Crain also reported that a meeting with Grant King from the Southeast Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) will be held on December 9 at 7:00 pm and will bring together the local Master Plan Committee members for the first time. King will provide guidance and help the committee navigate the process of updating the town’s Master Plan.

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

Mattapoisett Planning Board

By Marilou Newell

            It’s a bold, new era for the Town of Marion in its governance of the Benson Brook Transfer Station, as the Board of Selectmen began voting on the logistics of the self-managed program during its November 17 meeting.

            For the first time since the Carver-Marion-Wareham Regional Refuse Disposal District (CMWRRDD) was established in 1973, Marion will be going it alone beginning January 1, 2021.

            Administrative Assistant Donna Hemphill reported a $10 rate increase to be used primarily to operate and pay for disposal, bringing the fee to $50 for residents per vehicle ($40 for veterans and senior citizens). She is working out a plan for when stickers can be purchased, as the Town House is only open now by appointment.

            Rates for 2021 must be established for non-residents as well as residents. The town is also negotiating a potential deal to allow Rochester residents to use the facility and is working on a proposed fee. Rochester Selectman Brad Morse reported back to his Board of Selectmen that he intended to meet on Wednesday with Marion representatives.

            “There’s a lot of unknowns this year…. One of the benefits to running it ourselves is, if we need to adjust, we can,” said Marion Town Administrator Jay McGrail.

            Marion is leasing equipment from Waste Management and is committed to one year under the new arrangement with a plan to evaluate. The sticker program brought in $48,000 in 2020. The $10 increase is meant to offset the difference in operating under CMWRRDD management and personnel.

            “We’re banking on the tonnage being low,” said McGrail, who was happy to announce that Marion residents would be allowed to bring yard waste two days per week on a year-round basis. McGrail hopes brush can be added to the facility’s list of acceptable items.

            The selectmen voted to approve the new policy and Marion resident rates; the board will vote later on fees for Rochester residents.

            In his Town Administrator’s report, McGrail stated that Marion’s recent change from gray (low-risk) status to red (high-risk) on the state’s COVID-19 map is not indicative of lackadaisical behavior by townspeople but a pure surge in cases. Marion is one of 15 municipalities added to the state’s red list.

            “The uptick we see is not because we let our guard down, but because the virus is spreading pretty quickly,” said McGrail, noting the opportunity over the next few weeks to get out of the red with a decline in positive tests.

            The recent emergence of a COVID-19 cluster at Sippican Healthcare Center accounts for the vast majority of cases. As of Tuesday, the parent company Whittier Health Network listed 61 cases of residents or staff that tested positive. McGrail said Marion has had 49 cases since November 1, 14 of which occurred outside the nursing home; the town had 30 cases over the prior eight months.

            Internal changes over the last two weeks include moving all public meetings to a fully-remote format, once again closing the Music Hall to outside groups. Municipal buildings are only open to the public via appointment. McGrail said a list of phone numbers had been posted outside the Town House, and a phone call to the appropriate number can result in immediate service. “We are screening all customers for temperature and contact tracing information until we see a decline in our positive rate in Marion,” said McGrail.

            Due to the surge, the Festival of Trees auction event planned for the Cushing Community Center has been canceled.

            McGrail reported that the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Clean Water Trust approved a change in Marion’s contract, allowing the town to take back-end money and allocate $1.2 million to allow a contractor to continue to remove sludge from the lagoon at the Benson Brook Transfer Station. McGrail estimates that the money will be used up in the second week of December, and the sludge may not be cleared by then. In that case, the project would be shut down and brought back to the Spring Town Meeting.

            Marion is getting a better deal on trucking the sludge to Maine than it had been trucking it all the way to Nova Scotia, Canada.

            “We’ll know more the second week of December when the $1.2 million’s gone,” said McGrail.

            During a 4:15 pm public classification hearing with Assessor Pat DeCosta, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve a single tax rate as opposed to a split rate for residential and commercial property owners. “It doesn’t make sense to go with the split rate,” said Selectman John Waterman, citing 93 percent of property taxpayers are residential. “We’d like to encourage more businesses in town.”

            Marion is giving the four restaurants in town that serve alcohol on their premises a break on their annual license fees, down from $1,400 to $1,025 based on a one-time, 25 percent reduction. The amount was calculated according to the months the establishments were closed due to COVID-19. “Obviously, it wouldn’t offset what they lost; it’s a gesture,” said McGrail, reporting agreement on the measure from Assistant Town Administrator and Finance Director Judy Mooney. The forfeiture in fees adds up to roughly $2,000, and the selectmen approved. Restaurants without alcohol licenses pay $60 per year.

            Two applicants, Josh Lerman and Chris Horton, attended Tuesday’s Zoom with the Board of Selectmen and will revisit the selectmen on December 15 for formal interviews as potential successors to the aquaculture license previously held by Shea Doonan. If the interviews go well, the candidates will become the subject of a public hearing during a January meeting of the selectmen. The selectmen’s vote of approval would launch the applicant forward to seek approval from other Marion boards, including the Conservation Commission and the Marine Resources Commission, along with the state Division of Marine Fisheries. The final license is issued by the Board of Selectmen.

            Waterman said Marion’s water bills are antiquated and, with a redesign like the electric bills with usage charted against last year, a new look would help impress upon residents the message that they are responsible for leaks. McGrail said he would look into the matter.

            Citing the potential clearing of Park Street, Waterman reinforced his push to make the new emergency access from Route 6 into Sippican Elementary School the prescribed bus route as well.

            On behalf of the town, the selectmen voted to accept a donation of $15,000 earmarked for the Park and Tree Committee to use for a “beautification project.”

            “It’s a wonderful gift, and we’re thankful for their generosity,” said Waterman.

            The next meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen is scheduled for December 15.

Marion Board of Selectmen

By Mick Colageo

            The morning after presiding over a successful Special Town Meeting that saw all nine articles carry, the Rochester Board of Selectmen met for the third time in five days, the last of these on November 17. In their regular meeting, the board heard from Assessor Chuck Shea and voted for a single tax rate and a residential factor of 1 in fiscal year 2021 with no exemptions.

            Shea, who will be retiring from his post in 2021, participated in a classification (i.e., split tax rate) hearing, reading from the FY21 revaluation certified on November 2.

            The full and fair FY20 valuation of $1,035,420,960 was dominated by residential property, covering 85.46 percent ($884,876,345) of the total. Those numbers are increasing in FY21 to 86.77 percent ($935,886,133). The total FY21 valuation is $1,078,606,294.

            The expected levy for FY21 is $14,420,966.15, a 3.32-percent increase over $13,957,500 for FY20. Last year’s tax rate was 13.48, slightly higher than the current 13.37.

            Residential taxes will increase in FY21 by 5.76 percent, while commercial taxes will decrease by 15 percent. Shea explained that the shift would make the rate more accurately assess split-use properties such as farms that the state recognizes as commercial. But if there is a home on the farm, all value was being classified as commercial. Now that property is being separated out for tax purposes. The total valuation increase is 4.7 percent.

            Shea reported more sales over the course of 2019 to almost 60. “There was a time when we struggled to get 35 sales,” he said, noting an annual expectation of 60-65 in qualified sales that do not count sales below market value.

            The average single-family home assessment for Rochester in FY20 was $413,400; that number is up to $431,870 in FY21. The average property tax for a single-family home is $5,774, up by $201. The average condominium assessment for Rochester in FY20 was $386,095; that number is up to $416,126 for FY21 with a $360 increase in property tax.

            After a unanimous vote in favor, Town Administrator Suzanne Szyndlar made the selectmen aware that excess capacity is all used up for 2020.

            The selectmen approved an Ambulance Hardship Request, and Selectman Brad Morse suggested that Szyndlar be authorized to approve any such request under $500 without the selectmen’s vote. Town Counsel Blair Bailey confirmed that the practice is acceptable at whatever number the board set. Selectman Woody Hartley heartily agreed, and a motion passed authorizing Szyndlar to approve any hardship request of $500 or less.

            The Selectmen approved a SEMASS payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) of $340,445 for September 2020.

            Morse was to meet on Wednesday with the Carver-Marion-Wareham Regional Refuse Disposal District and also with the Town of Marion with a plan to provide an update at the board’s next meeting.

            Under new business, Hartley reported on a new state grant up to $300,000 meant to assist towns looking to take indoor activities outside during the coronavirus pandemic. The money could be applied to streets, curbsides, or parking lots. Bailey said the grant had been used in the city for tents, pavilions, and outdoor patio areas. The board voted to approve Hartley’s pursuit of a plan for a program and application. Hartley said there would be more than one opportunity to apply and hopes to return to the board with an update in January.

            Among other things, the board used its November 12 meeting to set the quorum for the town’s November 16 Special Town Meeting at 30 per the Acts of 2020, Chapter 92 “An Act Relative to Municipal Governance during the COVID-19 Emergency,” Section 7.

            They barely got that many on Monday night at Rochester Memorial School.

            The state would have sanctioned as few as five, seeing that Rochester’s regular quorum is 50. No less than 10 percent was authorized in a special act by the state legislature per the governor in June.

            “We need 30 voters; there’s some important business to be done that night,” said Hartley on November 12.

            “It is important when we have this issue occasionally when we don’t have the controversial things on the warrant is getting people to come in…. There are some very important items,” said Bailey, echoing Hartley’s sentiments.

            Szyndlar noted that the town moderator had emailed his endorsement of the quorum reduction. “He’s 100-percent on board with it. He definitely thinks that it’s a great idea,” she said.

            The motion carried, 3-0.

            Szyndlar opened her November 12 Town Administrator’s report by publicly thanking Town Clerk Paul Dawson and his team of volunteers for their work on the November 3 election, saying they did “a fantastic job.”

            In other news from the November 12 meeting, there will be a household hazardous waste collection day on Saturday, November 14, from 9:00 am to noon at the Highway Department at 200 Ryder Road. More information can be found at www.townofrochester.com and on the town’s Facebook page. Only Rochester residents will be allowed to participate; residents can visit the website for a list of acceptable and unacceptable items.

            Szyndlar met with department heads on November 6 to address changes recommended by Public Health Nurse Karen Walega regarding the opening of municipal buildings. Amidst the current spike in positive COVID-19 cases, Szyndlar told the selectmen that, to whatever extent town employees can work remotely, they will not be in the Town Hall.

            With the holidays coming and an anticipated heightened transmission of the coronavirus, the following precautions are being taken: After Thanksgiving, staff will work from home the next five consecutive business days. Where it concerns the public, nothing should change; the town is still making appointments and receiving calls and emails.

            Hartley added that the Council on Aging is closing down the Friday after Thanksgiving and the week following. The COA will also close on Christmas for a few days, on New Year’s Day, and a few days after that. Services will remain up and running, including food distribution and rides. “It’s a good idea to be on the safe side throughout the town,” said Hartley.

            The next meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen is scheduled for December 4.

Rochester Board of Selectmen

By Mick Colageo

            It’s not often that large joint meetings work well, but the November 17 group meeting hosted by the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen did just that. Coming together at the invitation of the selectmen were members of the Capital Planning Committee, chaired by Chuck McCullough, and the Finance Committee, chaired by Pat Donoghue.

            Three department heads came before the collaborative seeking to have their grant applications supported with matching town funds from the Capital Stabilization Fund, or, as was the case with harborside projects, a borrowing from the fund to pay for necessary wharf repairs.

            Coming before the committees first was Barry Denham, the highway surveyor. Denham explained that the town had been awarded a Coastal Zone Management Grant of $75,000 that required the town to chip in $25,000.

            The CZM grant, Denham explained, would be used for an engineering study of a culvert located on Mattapoisett Neck Road that redirects tidal flowage from marshland into Molly’s Cove. He said that the drainage pipe was most likely not appropriately sized when it was installed decades ago but furthermore was damaged and failing. The suspect piping had been patched, Denham said, but called it a “ticking time bomb.”

            Denham said there were two other culverts in the beach communities of Pico Beach and Crescent Beach that were also failing, but fear over the Mattapoisett Neck Road culvert ranked higher given that residents have only one way to and from homes in that area.

            Questions arose when McCullough stated that the 2019 Capital Planning schedule did not list any culverts; thus, he wondered aloud at the process and why such important items weren’t listed. “When a project hits us, it’s because due diligence has been done.” He said the Capital Plan should include all the funding required so that his committee can then rank the projects from highest to lowest priority. The Capital Planning Committee ranks all projects and equipment requests over $10,000 needed within a 10-year timeframe, then advises the Finance Committee and the Board of Selectmen.

            Town Administrator Mike Lorenco said the culverts were not on the plan but that he and McCullough had been in discussions about what belongs on the working document. “Chuck and I have had conversations; things are missing,” Lorenco said of the Capital Plan list. He said he would have a discussion with department heads on what needs to be listed on the Capital Plan, calling it an “overhaul.” He added, “The plan should also note how things will be paid for.”

            In the end, it was decided that Denham and Lorenco would reach out to CZM and learn whether or not the timeline for committing to the matching monies could be extended out to the spring. At that time, the request could go before Town Meeting. Barring that, Selectman Paul Silva said the board would revisit the proposal at their next regular meeting.

            Next up was Fire Chief Andrew Murray, with a request for $33,755 from the Capital Stabilization Fund to be added to an award of $173,821, a grant received from FEMA. Murray explained that SCAB, which stands for self-contained breathing apparatus, will be purchased with the monies. He said that currently, the department is using equipment that is 24 years old. Murray plans on buying 23 units, one for each seat inside Fire Department emergency apparatuses as required by OSHA.

            In this instance, the requested funds have been listed on the Capital Plan for a number of years, it was noted, but now time was of the essence. With the FEMA grant, the town could supply the safety equipment sooner rather than later, at better rates if done so before January 1, at better rates.

            Murray’s request was positively received by all in attendance and approved by the selectmen.

            Harbormaster Jamie MacIntosh also came before the assembled with a request to borrow $30,000 from the Stabilization Fund to pay for the replacement of damaged or missing pilings and associated gear for the wharves.

            A Town Meeting vote had previously approved a separate project for $30,000 to dredge between wharves in October 2019.

            Regarding the ‘loan,’ Silva wasn’t comfortable moving the funding unless it could be established how much would be paid back and over what period of time from the Waterfront Retained Earnings.

            Again the group was in favor of supporting the request. In the end, it was approved by the selectmen with the stipulation that the Waterfront Enterprise Fund pay no less than $10,000 a year to the Capital Stabilization Fund.

            Earlier in the meeting, it was discussed that the selectmen had the authority under the state’s emergency orders to move monies from the Stabilization Fund to other accounts. The selectmen sought the Finance Committee’s advice before acting on requests that they had received from the departments.

            At McCullough’s request, Lorenco will prepare a list of all grants being pursued and any costs to the town. Lorenco said he would work on a documented procedure for department heads for grant applications moving forward.

Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen

By Marilou Newell