In a matter of days if not hours, anyone can access a PowerPoint presentation at marionma.gov and find out exactly what a harbormaster does 24-7-365.

            The Marion Select Board was treated on Tuesday night to a comprehensive overview of the duties and responsibilities performed regularly and situationally by the town’s Harbormaster Department.

            Despite criticism of the new Marine Center construction coming to Island Wharf, there was no hint of defensiveness in Marion Harbormaster Isaac Perry’s presentation to the board. More so, it was a matter-of-fact breakdown of what goes on under his management and that of Deputy Harbormaster/Shellfish Officer Adam Murphy, Assistant Harbormaster David Wilson and a few seasonal, part-time employees and a shared administrative assistant.

            The number of the areas within Perry’s purview was staggering, as many maintenance duties that theoretically could be subcontracted are handled in-house. Those include but are not limited to maintenance issues relating to the current headquarters and the maintenance of department boats and vehicles.

            Management is a key skill because it applies to all kinds of areas in a department small enough to run like a small business.

            It begins with training and recertifications under the requirements set forth for police officers by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

            The required recruit officer training course lasts 21 weeks or 840 hours and is only the prelude to more training required to be a harbormaster or shellfish officer. There are also the annual and biannual trainings such as what is required to carry a hoisting license.

            At the heart of what the harbormaster does is law enforcement between April and November inclusive. In 2021, Marion’s Harbormaster Department fielded 44 distress calls and 226 other nondistress calls.

            “We’re not big on writing citations,” said Perry, who reported having issued 12 violations in 2021. He prefers to stress the educational component.

            Each season has its emphasis, but there is little of the job that doesn’t occur at any time. Parking and littering issues at shoreline access points have been a major headache in May and June when recreational fishing increases.

            Marion’s pump-out service generates an annual $17,500 in maximum reimbursement funding, out of which seasonal, part-time employees are paid. It also funds maintenance on a basis of 75 percent funded with a 25 percent match.

            With service available from May to October, pumping out 900 boats per year puts 16,000 gallons of sewage into the town system; Perry says that typically it is the same boats being serviced.

            The educational component resurfaces with boating-safety classes to help people meet license requirements for different age groups. Separate classes are held for Fire Department personnel at a maximum of 25 students per class. The two-day classes are held free of charge.

            As an administrator, Perry oversees the management of approximately 1,800 individual permits per year relating to moorings, boats, slips, racks, etc., along with furnishing an excise tax list for the Assessor’s office.

            Perry credits Select Board administrative assistant Donna Hemphill for creating a mooring database that he considers “a real game changer.” Putting the database online makes it available on boats and in the harbormaster’s office, which is geographically separated from administrative assistance out of the Town House.

            Then there is grant funding procurement. In addition to the grants awarded the new Marine Center by the state’s Seaport Economic Council, the Clean Vessels Act (CVA) funds Marion’s pump-out service. Annual reports are filed, and regulations are reviewed and updated.

            Marion currently has eight commercial fishing permits in town, along with 365 recreational permits and four aquaculture permits. The town itself grows its own shellfish; this year 150,000 oysters are growing off Island Wharf.

            Where the Harbormaster Department saves Marion money is in spending $10,000 for offseason maintenance of 35 floats measuring at least 6×30 feet and weighing approximately 4,000 pounds. The department built 28 of the 35. To subcontract the maintenance work would cost the town an annual $30,000 to $35,000. The replacement value of the floats is $250,000.

            Markers aka PATONS number 35 in total and like the lifesaving gear and public bathrooms in Memorial Park, need maintenance during the launching season from late March into early June.

            With 70 individual moorings, there is 7,000 feet of chain. If not maintained in house, it would cost the town $300 per float adding up to $24,000 per year (not including any storm event – a hurricane would double the number if the maintenance were subcontracted.)

            The department’s arm extends to assist other programs such as the town’s Community Sailing Program and Marion Recreation and Natural History Museum. The department offers a safety boat, radio help and sets race markers for regattas hosted by the Beverly Yacht Club and visiting clubs. It instructs lifeguards and installs swim markers.

            The fireworks to be held on Friday, July 1, will be policed by the Harbormaster Department, which executed the permit on behalf of the town with the U.S. Coast Guard and will keep 200 or more vessels outside the 1,000-foot security zone around the barge.

            In other business, the Select Board held off from approving the Beverly Yacht Club’s request for street closures for its 150th anniversary gala on July 23 pending notification of impacted properties.

            In his Town Administrator’s Report, Jay McGrail told the board that the town will host an Employee Appreciation Cookout on Wednesday, June 29, at the Cushing Community Center Pavilion at 12:00 pm.

            McGrail highlighted FY22 goals and said he will present FY23 goals at the board’s next meeting.

            Marion’s Independence Day Parade will begin at 9:00 am on July 4.

            Volunteers are still needed for the Town Party scheduled for August 27 at Silvershell Beach.

            Select Board Chairman Randy Parker agreed to join McGrail for a meeting requested by the state Department of Environmental Protection regarding denitrification in septic systems. Marion has a regulation, and the state is planning one of its own, but McGrail was told that will be a “lengthy process.”

            On July 20 and 21, Marion’s Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan will come into focus as cost is realized in meetings with the Buzzards Bay Coalition and Weston & Sampson. A public meeting will be scheduled for July 20 at 4:00 pm at the Music Hall.

            The Tri-Town Against Racism Little Free Library will soon be relocated from Old Landing.

            The board approved the appointment of Michael Moore from alternate to full member of the Marine Resources Commission. Moore will fill Select Board member Toby Burr’s term, which is set to expire on June 30, 2023.

            The board approved McGrail’s plan to stagger three-year terms on town boards and committees so they don’t all end the same year. This will extend expiring terms to the Select Board’s next meeting.

            Despite a vote last year to approve, Juneteenth was not added to the town’s Personnel Policy. On Tuesday, the board approved its addition.

            The board (minus Parker who recused himself) approved of Sippican Lands Trust’s application for a one-day liquor license at the Marion Art Center for its Birds and Bourbon event on July 10 from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm.

            The board also approved the Marion Social Club’s applications for three one-day liquor licenses that will authorize the Chicken Bake on June 10 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm, the Senior Chicken Bake on August 21 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm and the Town Party on August 27 from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

            The board voted to approve water-sewer commitments final readings of $992.06 (June 3), $1,102.28 (June 8) and $1,305.99 (June 9.)

            Because Matt Schultz was unavailable to attend Tuesday’s meeting, the board held off on his appointment to the role of associate member with the Conservation Commission. Schultz comes with an enthusiastic recommendation from the ConCom membership.

            The next meeting of the Marion Select Board is scheduled for Tuesday, July 12, at 6:00 pm under the Cushing Community Center Pavilion.

Marion Select Board

By Mick Colageo

            The Rochester Planning Board Tuesday night approved a $805,000 surety bond for the developers of the massive Village at Plumb Corner housing project to begin Phase II of the construction process. First, however, the board chided the project’s technical consultant, Brian Wallace, over what has not been done to the panel’s satisfaction in Phase I.

            “Stuff we ask for, we never get,” Planning Board Chairman Arnold Johnson complained. “Stuff you want, we make it happen.”

            All paving isn’t finished, and the Community Building that was supposed be part of Phase I has not been constructed, Johnson elaborated, and work on the Countryside Child Care playground relocation has not started.

            The board also chided the developer’s use of the word “substantially” complete in its request to move on to Phase II. It is the board’s responsibility, not the developer’s, to decide when work is “substantially” done, Town Counsel Blair Bailey said.

            “We have done quite a bit of work over the last year,” Wallace responded, noting the work has been done at a steady pace. “But there are a lot of moving parts.”

            Wallace promised that construction of the community building will be done and ready for an occupancy permit around August 31, and the playground will be relocated around late August or early fall.

            “That Community Center foundation should have been done first,” Johnson responded, noting this was agreed upon as part of Phase I.

            The board then agreed that its consulting engineer, Ken Motta, would review the site work in order to prepare a full punch list of everything that must be completed before Phase II begins.

            In other business, the board announced it has received the draft decision approving the Countryside Child Care playground relocation plan. It delayed voting on the decision, pending input from Motta and Town Counsel Blair Bailey.

            The next meeting of the Rochester Planning Board is scheduled for Tuesday, June 28, at 7:00 pm.

Rochester Planning Board
By Michael J. DeCicco

The June 2 meeting of the Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission was broadcast in a hybrid format and uploaded to the ORCTV’s Vimeo page. On the agenda was the ongoing construction of a bike path between Creek Road and Jenna Drive on Point Road.

            The path passes through the Marion town layout, as well as private property and conservation land. The path requires a number of trees to be cleared, which in turn requires police supervision along populated streets in order to ensure no falling debris results in injuries or property damage. Or as MOSAC Chairperson John Rockwell more concisely put it, to avoid anyone “getting whacked.”

            It was brought up that falling limbs or other mishaps could result in outages along streets that have power lines, so any crews working in those areas should take extra care. The commissioners discussed various options for tree-removal companies, as well as the delays and increases in cost that have come about as a result of the pandemic. Gas prices in particular were cited as problematic, especially regarding the transportation and disposal of the felled trees.

            Rockwell suggested looking into selling the lumber to offset the cost of removal and suggested a mill might have use for the trees. Again, the cost of transportation was brought up as a factor, as well as how large the trees were, as some equipment was deemed unable to handle logs of a certain girth.

            In addition to police details and cutting costs, the commissioners discussed patterns and nesting behaviors of local birds in order to ensure clearing the trees won’t disrupt their activities.

            A question was raised by MOSAC member Debbie Ewing on behalf of Karen Gregory of the Marion Council on Aging, seeking information on work programs. Rockwell told the group that the Senior Work Group has previously assisted in the maintenance of trails and other natural areas by facilitating the removal of fallen branches, debris or litter. He had high praise for the program, stating it is a great way to get exercise while helping the community. The program requires support from both the Council on Aging and MOSAC. A member of MOSAC is present during outings.

            Discussion then moved on to grant updates. Rockwell informed the commission that they were successfully funded at the May 9 Town Meeting through the forestry grant for their survey work. As the grant money initially had a spend-by date of June 15 and the commission wouldn’t have authorization until at least July, the request was resubmitted, and Rockwell was assured that MOSAC is in the front of the line.

            Next on the agenda was the Open Space plan, specifically the criteria used to determine and declare “open space.” The current criteria was set by a local survey taken in 1994, as applying for certain grants required set parameters. The commission suggested it is time for an updated set of criteria, and seeing as it’s been nearly three decades since the last survey to create such things, a new survey was suggested.

            The sticking point discussed was distribution, as nowadays paper surveys are not likely to generate much of a response, and digital surveys still require a method of distribution in order to get the word out to citizens. Still, a survey was landed upon as the best way forward. That way, the matter of why a particular area is declared open space is left up to the people it impacts the most.

            “It’s not our board saying this is important, it’s the citizens of the town of Marion saying this is important,” Rockwell voiced, supporting the survey wholeheartedly.

            The next meeting of the Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission was not set at adjournment.

Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission

By Jack MC Staier

            On Tuesday afternoon, Tata & Howard engineer Jon Gregory presented a $315,000 services agreement for the design and bidding of the Mattapoisett Water Treatment Plant upgrade that the engineering firm has been working on for years with the Mattapoisett River Valley Water District Commission.

            “We’re ready to go ahead and execute this agreement,” said Gregory. “This is the full-scale design and bidding services agreement for the plant upgrade.”

            Gregory summarized the agreement as split into two projects: procurement (a means to purchase the ultra-filtration equipment approved by the commission for installation at the plant) followed by the overall full design of the upgraded plant, including specifications for the installation of the new Puron filtering system and all associated upgrades.

            Some aspects of that phase include subsequent work and subcontracting with an electrical engineer and a structural consultant for the storage of “hefty” equipment in the loft area. The agreement includes all the piping, submitting of applications with the state Department of Environmental Protection for its approval and working with vendors.

            “Senior-level staff will be working on this,” said Gregory, who on June 6 submitted the agreement for the commissioners’ review.

            “I just want to interject to the group, there is a large amount of work to put this project together … the cost seems justified. I have no issues with this at all. There are a lot of opportunities to upgrade the plan,” said Commission Chairman Vinnie Furtado.

            Gregory clarified that there will be a separate piece that involves the actual construction.

            The commission voted to approve the agreement, putting the project into motion.

            The commission unanimously voted to approve an amendment adding $5,000 to the FY22 Tata & Howard (general) Operations Engineering Agreement.

            “We exceeded the scope,” said Gregory in detailing the reasons for the request, including the coordination of meetings, technical assistance during the boil order and preparation for Town Meeting for plant upgrades. He said the $5,000 will get Tata & Howard through FY22 with a new, not-to-exceed fee of $35,000.

            Gregory did not see any reason why the overage should carry over to the Tata & Howard FY23 Operations Engineering Agreement, which will not exceed $30,000. “At present we feel that the present scope will cover FY23,” said Gregory. Bailey said he has no issues with the document as presented by Gregory. The commission voted unanimously in favor of the FY23 agreement.

            Addressing the MRV Water Supply Protection Advisory Committee, Gregory said that the Tata & Howard FY23 Hydrologic Monitoring Engineering Agreement is not to exceed $35,000. The committee voted to move forward with the agreement and authorized Vinnie Furtado to sign off.

            The committee approved the purchase of two level loggers at a total cost not to exceed $1,600.

            The MRV will soon be advertising for part-time bookkeeping help.

            Vinnie Furtado collaborated with respective commission and committee treasurers Wendy Graves and Jeff Furtado on a job description and invited suggestions from both memberships.

            As a starting point, it was agreed that the contracted bookkeeper would spend approximately five hours per month on regular duties pertaining mainly to the committee and some to the commission, prepare an annual report and also participate in budget meetings.

            Monthly invoices for the commission totaled out to $90,478.08, including a bill from the Town of Mattapoisett for its fourth-quarter (FY22) payment of $43,432.49 for salaries and wages.

            Committee Treasurer Jeff Furtado reported a total account of $266,733.02 minus $150,000 encumbered for the MRV land protection partnership for a net total of $160,733.02.

            The next meeting of the MRV Water Supply Protection Advisory Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, July 12, at 3:30 pm with the MRV Water District Commission meeting to immediately follow at 4:00 pm on the same Zoom call.

MRV Water District Commission/Water Supply Protection Advisory Committee

By Mick Colageo