Way at the back of the line in Marion’s cleanup efforts this fall has been the Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission’s requests for assistance in moving along its Point Road Path project.

            Seeing no pathway through the debris along the side of Point Road, MOSAC Chairman John Rockwell decided to take a short cut, and in the commission’s December 2 meeting he told members that he had talked to Dave Jenney who, as a “single practitioner” is not subject to the prevailing-wage law.

            “I asked him what he could do clearing out that first 1,000 feet, and he said his daily rate is $950 a day. So I thought, we do have money in our budget for this work and I thought, let’s get him for one day and see what progress we make, and then we’ll have an idea what it’ll cost for this whole 3,500 feet there, not including the big trees or stump removal,” explained Rockwell.

            The plan is to clear out a 14-foot-wide swath of medium-size trees and brush and thereby make room for larger equipment. Expectations on a timeline were tempered by the additional trees taken down by the storm that caused massive power outages across the region in late October.

            “I know if he had some helping hands pulling brush out of the way, that would help move things along,” said Rockwell. “Rather than trying to get a contract and going through the contract basis and writing up bid specs … he’s done work for us in the past, and I’ve been very impressed by it.”

            MOSAC member Debbie Ewing agreed with the direction.

            “If he only gets 50 feet, then we can extrapolate out, but if he gets 1,000 feet done, then we know how much it’s going to cost to do the whole 3,000 feet,” said Rockwell, who added that Jenney’s machine can turn the smaller debris into little bits. “Anything less than 2 inches, he’s just going to turn into dust.”

            Rockwell hopes a couple of chainsaw-wielding helpers can support the effort by following along and removing smaller limbs. “Cutting stuff, that’s actually pretty easy. It’s getting stuff out of the way (that’s the challenge,)” he said.

            Listening in, former MOSAC member Alan Harris suggested a volunteer workday to augment Jenney’s effort.

            With plans to be back in Marion last week, Rockwell and Ewing were to meet to stake out the next 1,000 feet of the Point Road Path.

            Harris told the commission that signs reading “No Motorized Vehicles” were removed from Goldavitz Bog. He requested MOSAC labels to accompany the signs when replaced. He also “retroactively asked” for MOSAC’s permission to place a sign on behalf of the Sippican Lands Trust that asks visitors to wear orange and to pick up after their dogs. Rockwell and Ewing welcomed the idea.

            “And just to calm anyone who might watch this, we have many sportsmen, very low incidents of any negative interaction,” said Harris. “It’s always good, though, to wear orange.”

            G.A.F. Engineering flagged out the wetlands for Great Swamp Trail fire access, according to Rockwell, who said he checked it out and received positive feedback from Conservation Agent Doug Guey-Lee. Looking to spread a couple of loads of gravel, MOSAC planned to file a Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA) with the Conservation Commission.

            Ewing volunteered to represent MOSAC on Marion’s Community Preservation Committee. The CPC fields applications for grant funding from private and public projects related to community preservation.

            “The only skill is cutting through the B.S. on the grant applications,” said Rockwell, who said the expedient way to judge a project is to go straight to the budget page and see if the plan has a chance to succeed based on evidence of research.

            MOSAC member Amanda Chace supported Ewing’s representation to the CPC, saying it would give her the opportunity to learn about what the other boards and committees in town are doing. The commission voted 3-0 in favor.

            The commission did not schedule its next meeting at adjournment.

Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission

By Mick Colageo

            Sippican Elementary School Principal Marla Sirois and Assistant Principal Peter Crisafulli presented on the 2021 MCAS testing results during the Marion School Committee’s December 1 meeting.

            ORR Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson acknowledged the challenges that accompanied MCAS testing during the pandemic-affected learning models.

            “The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) correctly predicted that there would be statewide dips in scores compared to previous data sets. Here in the tri-town, we saw some instances of this dip, but overall we are extremely proud of the efforts that our school community made last year,” said Nelson, reading from a prepared statement. “The majority of our scores were consistent or above state averages. Our faculty, our families and most of all, our students should be commended on their efforts.

            “We will use this set of data in conjunction with all available data points to inform instructional approaches and interventions for our students moving forward. Most importantly, we will continue to focus on the whole child, fostering a strong sense of belonging, social-emotional wellness and offer a strong, grade-appropriate instruction and learning opportunities for all students.”

            In summarizing information on Sippican School’s MCAS results from 2018 to 2021, Sirois laid out the scoring chart: 530-560 exceeds expectations, 500-529 meets expectations, 470-499 partially meets expectations and 440-469 not meeting expectations.

            Sirois called the MCAS “a snapshot in time” and noted that because there was no MCAS testing for 2019-20, third and fourth graders were taking the test for the first time. As a result, the Student Growth Percentile measuring multi-year growth now begins in Grade 5 because of the lack of sufficient MCAS data during the pandemic.

            Assistant Principal Peter Crisafulli pointed out that while Marion’s average grades in English language and Arts slightly declined during the pandemic, the town ranked favorably against the state average in exceeding, meeting and not meeting expectations and the same as the state average in partially meeting expectations.

            In Math, Sippican performed similarly, grading more students higher than the state average in exceeding or meeting expectations and even with state average in partially or not meeting expectations. Where Sippican made a disappointing report was in third-grade math. Only 25 percent of the students exceeded (4 percent) or met (21 percent) expectations.

            “This is not the data we hoped to see, but statewide math scores were lower than hoped for,” said Sirois, who noted that Grade 3 staffing at Sippican was altered in 2020-21 due to the pandemic. “Specifically, we had many remote students, and when we came back many students had to switch teachers. We’re also looking at our math resources as well as our interventions to ensure that we’re meeting the need of all of our students wherever they are, prepandemic, now and postpandemic.”

            Third graders at Sippican fared much better in English Language and Arts. Grade 4 students were much stronger in math with 48 percent exceeding or meeting expectations. For Grade 5, the ELA MCAS results were not as favorable as they were for Grades 3 and 4, as 41 percent of fifth graders only partially met expectations. Sirois noted that many of those grades were close to “the meeting line” and said she is confident that the “partially meets expectations” group will show growth in Grade 6.

            The fact Sippican’s students showed less growth in ELA than the state average is mitigated by higher grades coming into the 2020-21 year, according to Sirois.

            In Math, 48 percent of Grade 5 Sippican students met or exceeded expectations. In Science and Technology/Engineering, 57 percent of Sippican’s Grade 5 students exceeded or met expectations.

            Grade 6 students fared better with 62 percent exceeding or meeting expectations in ELA, well above the state average, and 53 percent of math students likewise achieving.

            In her Chairperson’s Report, April Rios opened by thanking the Sippican students, teachers and families for their support during MCAS testing. “We really have to look at this and go back to the 2019 (comparison,)” she said. “I know that MCAS is never an easy thing to begin with, so with everything that was on everybody’s plates, I was very proud of, overall, the numbers. I know they’re not possibly where we want them to be, but I know that we’ll get them back to where they were and where we want them.”

            In his Central Office Administrator’s report, Nelson addressed the Covid-19 situation at Sippican. There have been 32 Covid-19 cases to date at Sippican, including five in isolation as of the December 1 committee meeting. Nelson said that testing remains instrumental in maintain in-person learning.

            The state’s masking update continues, but Nelson anticipates an update in January as the timeline for the mandate nears its scheduled expiration. With vaccinations now available for ages five and up, the ORR District is gathering information to fully understand where individual schools are at where it concerns caring for the students.

            In her report to the committee, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Jannell Pearson-Campbell said that a professional development day was held on November 12, when teachers heard from Lesley University and held a responsive classroom for social-emotional learning. Sippican and other ORR District-school representatives will visit Lesley on January 18 as part of a two-year process aimed at professional development in areas involving literacy and dyslexia. A parents online-education opportunity was also scheduled for December 13.

            Director of Student Services Craig Davidson said that the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) would be visiting to finalize ORR’s audit. Davidson said the focus of the visit would be on civil rights and education, and he called the overall process a “two-and-a-half-year journey.” DESE’s audit works on a three-year cycle. A report is expected in the upcoming months.

            Davidson said ORR is also partnering with DESE on preschool and kindergarten learning experiences, building off equitable support for children with disabilities program and focusing on antiracist practices.

            The next Early Childhood Council meeting is scheduled for January 19, and any tri-town resident can attend the ORR preschool screening being held on January 26 at Center School in Mattapoisett.

            Committee Vice Chairperson Nichole Daniel said that Sippican has moved into Phase 3 (progress monitoring) of the Acceleration Road Map. Daniel also reported on a Grade 6 study of the history of the Crayola Crayons Company.

            In his report, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber told the committee that Sippican Elementary School’s budget has $642,000 of unencumbered and unobligated funds, and 85.77 percent of those funds are related to student-related operating costs.

            The committee voted to accept a donation of a book for the school library offered by ORR School Committee Chairperson (and Marion resident) Heather Burke. The book “Monty and Rose, Nest at Montrose” was written by Tamima Itani about piping plovers.

            Rios opened the meeting with a moment of silence for the victims in the Oakland County Michigan High School shooting. At the conclusion of the public session, the committee entered executive session to discuss collective bargaining and only returned to adjourn.

            The next meeting of the Marion School Committee is scheduled for Wednesday, January 12 and the Joint School Committee is scheduled to meet on January 20. Both meetings start at 6:30 pm.

Marion School Committee

By Mick Colageo

The Randall Lane LLC Notice of Intent filing for a large solar array planned off Randall Lane will receive an Order of Conditions.

            At the reopened public hearing, project representative Eric Las of Beals and Thomas said that Planning Board review was finalizing its decision and that the public hearing for that board’s oversight had been closed. Las said that fencing previously planned inside the flood zone was moved. He confirmed that the project as now presented will not change.

            None of the commissioners nor Conservation Agent Brandon Faneuf had any questions or comments during ConCom’s December 13 meeting. The public hearing was closed.

            However, commissioner Chapman Dickers whose home is located adjacent to the property in question said that neighbors are concerned that their private wells would be impacted as had been the case during the construction of Route 195.

            Chairman Mike King said, “I can’t imagine there’ll be a problem,” calling the scope of construction “low impact.” King added, “I’m sure they’ll be respectful of Mattapoisett.” Las will return to the commission at its next scheduled meeting to receive an Order of Conditions.

            In other business, a residential home site located on the barrier beach along Cove Street also received favorable comments from the commission. The NOI was filed by David Ricci and represented by Bob Field of Field Engineering.

            The plan includes an elevated home of approximately 900 square feet on the shore side of the roadway and a two-car parking area on the opposite side of the street on a separate lot.

            The project received conditions that include maintenance of beach grasses into perpetuity,

as well as eradication of knotweed into perpetuity. It was also agreed that several red cedar trees would be planted.

            The commission ratified an after-the-fact filing by the Mattapoisett Highway Department for the cleaning of storm drains and associated structures at Gray Drive. The commissioners worked for nearly 30 minutes with Faneuf reviewing their standard special condition document making edits as agreed upon and then voting to accept the updated document.

            Chris Neill of Woodwell Climate Research Center came before the board seeking permission to install a water gauge in Tripp Mill outfall for study of nitrogen, a project WCRC is working on in collaboration with the Buzzards Bay Coalition. He was advised to file a Request for Determination of Applicability which would be at no charge to the non-profit organization and to return to the commission at the next scheduled meeting.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission is scheduled for Monday, December 27, at 6:30 pm.

Mattapoisett Conservation Commission

By Marilou Newell

            The Mattapoisett River Valley Water District Commission voted to accept a FY23 budget of $2,283,400 during its December 14 meeting. The meeting was the first since November 9 after a rash of meetings including emergency meetings on October 12 and 15 and the regular meeting on October 19.

            The FY23 budget is 0.6 percent less than the FY22 budget, according to Jon Gregory of Tata & Howard. The capital-costs assessment of $446,000 is included in the FY23 budget figure.

            “I believe it’s a pretty solid budget moving forward. … with a half a percentage below, we’re going to be looking at getting filters,” said Henri Renauld, the director of the MRV’s water-treatment plant.

            Gregory and Renauld were part of the FY23 budget subcommittee, along with Nathaniel Munafo and Meghan Davis of the Marion Department of Public Works.

            The group agreed that the “capital cost apportionment” which is supposed to be up for revision every five years has reached that point, though no one in attendance could confirm exactly when it was last done. Renauld said that the latest assessment is “very close” between Marion and Mattapoisett, a one- percent difference with Fairhaven’s apportionment remaining the same.

            The MRV voted to authorize Chairman Vinnie Furtado to sign estoppel agreements for two property transfers indicating that the commission has no issues with the involved parties. The members also voted to authorize counsel Blair Bailey to pay KP Law, an expense that is reimbursed to the MRV.

            Gregory told the members that he received two emails from attorneys prior to the meeting, saying they were anxious to receive news of the estoppel executions.

            Renauld received a vote of approval to order a new chlorine analyzer to replace a 12-year-old analyzer of the same make and model. He said the MRV is supposed to be monitoring the water continuously. The $9,925 cost would consist of $7,500 in capital so the request was for the remaining amount.

            The new model would not only monitor the chlorine but if it sees the level getting high it can lower it and stop it from going into alarm mode. “It’s a very good system, well alarmed, and it meets all the DEP standards,” said Renauld.

            Paul Howard of Tata & Howard noted that the new model is “totally incorporated to any changes we’re making to the plant so it can be used in the future.”

            In his Tata & Howard report to the commission, Gregory updated preliminary design and layouts for the new filters, blowers and skids. He said that by the MRV’s next meeting the project will be a lot further along.

            The MRV’s Emergency Response Plan update will be certified with the Environmental Protection Agency by the end of 2021, as annual ERP training was completed with sessions on November 10 and 17.

            In his Treatment Plant Operations update, Renauld said that while the plant has been running well, the storms led to generator problems at the beginning of November. “One of our switch gears is acting up,” said Renauld, who added a Rhode Island company is coming in to make a repair.

            The MRV lost ozone during the October power outage and backed water up because valves failed to correctly close. Renauld is working with Fintech to install in spring-type valves. There has also been replacement of ductwork on top of the heating units on the plant’s roof. Overnight flushing of force mains coming out of the facility was successfully conducted on November 29 to eradicate heavier debris.

            Chlorinating may be long-term according to Renauld, who hopes it may be able to stop after January 1, when samples will be taken and then the MRV will approach the DEP on the matter. Continued chlorination, said Renauld, has led to oxidation in the watermains, causing dirty water in some of the member communities.

            In her Treasurer’s Report to the commission, Wendy Graves reported $51,840 in total paid invoices for December.

            The MRV Water Protection Supply Advisory Committee met immediately before the commission with all but one member overlapping, and Katie Desrosiers attended on behalf of Mattapoisett in place of Town Administrator Mike Lorenco.

            In his Treasurer’s report to the committee, Jeff Furtado corrected last month’s Fairhaven assessment which he said was $6 off and should have been $292,659.70. He reported payment of several invoices highlighted by Tata & Howard invoices of $854.19 and $1,281.28.

            The committee’s ending balance for December was $290,138.98. The tallies since July 1 were $11,025.03 for expenses and $73,614.54 for income. The committee voted to approve new invoice payments to Tata & Howard for the 2018 annual report ($2,032.90) and equipment purchases ($1,809.08.)

            Davis is still in the process of gathering term-expiration letters from members in both the commission and the committee.

            MRV member emeritus David Pierce, attending remotely from his home in Vermont, was alert to ask if the committee’s 2021 annual report had been prepared. Gregory confirmed Pierce’s timing saying, “It’s that time of year, and if the committee would like Tata & Howard to prepare the annual report, we’d be happy to.” The committee and later the commission in its meeting likewise voted to accept Gregory’s offer to have Tata & Howard provide the MRV’s annual reports.

            Gregory also reported to the committee that the engineering firm’s November invoice included a flow probe that Dave Watling is now using in his testing program. Member Nick Nicholas reminded Gregory to take care of two level-logger locations where an adjustment is needed so the graphs don’t show an odd influx.

            The next meetings of the MRV Water District Commission and Water Protection Supply Committee are scheduled for Tuesday, January 11, at 3:30 pm and 4:00 pm.

MRV Water District Commission/Water Protection Supply Advisory Committee

By Mick Colageo