The Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen, including the newly elected John DeCosta, dealt with issues around beach use and establishing a July operating budget when they met on June 23. After Chairman Paul Silva and Vice Chairman Jordan Collyer welcomed DeCosta, the trio got down to the business by approving a one-twelfth operating budget for the month of July.

            Town Administrator Mike Lorenco reminded the public that the selectmen had postponed Town Meeting, opting instead to wait and see how receipts both local and statewide will shake out before setting a final FY21 budget for town meeting to approve.

            “Due to the uncertainty and a possible 20-percent decline in state funding, we wanted to take the time to look at receipts before making any assumptions,” said Lorenco, who added that a postponed Town Meeting might achieve greater attendance. The state, Lorenco said, grants cities and towns the option of conducting the town’s business by using a one-twelfth formula based on the FY20 budget. The only additional spending, he said, would be for contractual, one-time payments that are due in July.

            The total July-only budget accepted by the selectmen was $2,473,000. This sum represents $192,372 general government, $406,044 ambulance payment, $151,657 highway contractual obligation, $42,882 human services, $56,593 contractual salary increases library and recreation departments, $3,386 debt service, $1,618,451 Plymouth County pension payment, and $1,950 intergovernmental assessment.

            Also approved were enterprise fund payments of $8,117 for the town landfill station, $608,042 for the Mattapoisett River Valley Water District, $614,695 for sewer treatment plant expenses, and seasonal increases for harbormaster staff expenses. The schools will also be operating on the one-twelfth plan with a July budget of $1,210,000, he said.

            Beaches were very much on the minds of the selectmen as they have been hearing from residents about illegal parking along Aucoot Road and an abundance of beachgoer trash being left behind. “We established a “carry-in, carry-out” policy,” Lorenco stated, but things have not gone as smoothly as he had hoped. He said that starting June 29, beaches would be staffed and parking bans would be enforced.

            “We are basically going towards resident-only beaches this year,” said Lorenco, who said that people will still be allowed to walk in, but parking will be strictly for permit holders. “No day passes will be issued… We are thinking about adding an attendant at Aucoot Beach, something we haven’t done in the past.” He said that signs will be posted at no parking areas, and tickets would be issued to violators. Lorenco urged the public to adhere to a few rules saying, “These are public spaces; the public needs to do their part.” Full guidelines are available by visiting www.mattapoisett.net.

            Lorenco also gave a report on major projects happening throughout the community. He said that the Bike Path Phase 1b had stalled a bit due to COVID-19, but that things are moving along and a late fall opening is possible.

            The new Mattapoisett Fire Station is on track, he said, with a ceremonial groundbreaking planned at the site next to the Police Station on June 30 at 10:00 am. Attendees should be prepared to exercise distancing and wear a face covering, an earlier press release stated.

            The Acushnet Road bridge repair will be starting at the end of July, Lorenco said, with detours planned through Fairhaven and Wolf Island Road. The plan is to have all the work completed before school reopens in the fall, he noted.

            Two large projects, the Industrial Drive roadway improvements and the landfill municipal solar array, are also moving along albeit a bit slowly, Lorenco said.

            The Industrial Drive project finds the town is awaiting 100-percent engineered drawings required by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the federal government for grants that were awarded. “We added a shared-use bike path and a truck turn-around to the design,” Lorenco stated.

            The solar project located at the landfill is awaiting the finalization of agreements between Nexamp and Eversource, Lorenco said. “The interconnection agreement between these companies is the longest process in these projects.”

            Lorenco said he had met Jennifer Jones, the new library director, adding that her contract is in the works. He said that Jones asked for a little more time before exiting her current position in Plymouth given issues related to COVID-19 and the Plymouth library’s reopening. “She’ll be starting in August and will work with (retiring director Susan Pizzolato) until early September,” he said.

            Regarding the announcement that longtime Conservation Commission Agent Liz Leidhold would also be retiring in July, Lorenco said a search for her replacement had thus far been lackluster. “It might be because it is only a part-time position,” he said, telling the meeting that Leidhold had pushed her retirement date into September to give the town more time to search for her replacement.

            Lorenco was also very pleased regarding the cooperation and opening of outdoor restaurant seating that town officials had been able to work out with business owners. He said that the next phase would be interior seating, which he anticipates will go smoothly. Silva said that one restaurant wanted to consider outdoor seating even after the pandemic is declared over.

            In other business, the selectmen reaffirmed Collyer as representative to the Plymouth County Advisory Board, and they appointed David Lawrence to the Conservation Commission as a member, saying they supported his appointment and thanked him for his willingness to volunteer on an active town board.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen will be posted at mattapoisett.net once scheduled.

Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen

By Marilou Newell

            Toward the end of a lengthy Zoom meeting with the Old Rochester Regional Joint School Committee / Superintendency Union #55 on June 10, Superintendent Doug White gave his final address. The bodies were apart, participating via remote access, but the emotion was evident.

            “I feel very proud that the voices were heard this evening from the leadership and not so much from me because I think they’re ready to take on the challenges that are ahead of all of you, and they’re the ones we’re going to lean on as well as the school committee for their support for the work that’s going to be done,” said White, reading a prepared statement. “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve in this role… Although it has not always been easy, we have all worked to make decisions and take actions that will ensure that all the children receive the best education we could possibly provide them.”

            White estimated to have participated in over 400 school committee meetings and witnessed many advances in facilities and methods.

            “I want to thank the parents and the guardians in the Tri-Town for sharing their children with us every day. I’ve worked in multiple school districts, and I can say the families in the Tri-Town are the best. Family engagement is the highest I’ve ever seen… No matter the cause, there is always support. I hope that will always be the case.”

            In looking back at his decade in ORR’s Central Office, White focused on successes of two strategic plans aimed at making improvements in the areas of a rigorous curriculum, 21st-century learning, technology, social-emotional learning, global awareness, multi-culturalism, relationships with towns, and the organizational restructuring.

            White thanked the educators and support staff and noted that ORR’s graduation rate is among the top districts in Massachusetts. He noted the low number of special education students going outside of the district as a tribute to the ORR staff.

            He alluded to Gene Jones’ efforts to make sure all district buildings are in good shape, and that under his guidance ORR schools have seen upgrades with HVAC systems, lighting, alternative revenue sources, wind turbines, and rebates. “As a result of his efforts… our buildings, despite aging, are in very good shape,” he said.

            He praised the work of food-service director Jill Hennessy regarding in-house training and the serving of 30,000 breakfasts and lunches for students. The school lunch program’s finances are sound and the program has received accolades from the state Department of Nutrition.

            “The number of technology learning platforms has increased tenfold,” said White, referencing the vision of an electronic-communications device for every student. “I know we still need to find the right balance for how much technology is the right amount in a student’s day.”

            Most teachers now have interactive whiteboards in the classroom, allowing for expansion in 21st century learning across multiple platforms. The district will benefit from immeasurable levels including security from a new phone system.

            “I personally want to thank Diana Russo for keeping me on track every day. Mike (Nelson), she is a key to a superintendent’s success,” said White, passing public advice to his impending successor.

            White estimated having worked with between 45 and 55 school committee members over his decade in the Central Office, noting that three have matched his tenure start to finish: Sharon Hartley, Robin Rounseville, and Tina Rood. Citing two out of three of the Tri-Town communities with new town administrators, White asserted that the timing for the transition to Nelson’s leadership is perfect.

            “I feel that Mike has the skills and the institutional knowledge to keep the strategic plan a focal point,” he said. “As the district transitions back to school, I recommend you keep your focus on 21st-century learning, technology, multi-culturalism, and global awareness and, most importantly, our students are going to need social-emotional learning support.

            “The hiring of a Central Office administration is going to be key. I still believe there is a lack of middle management, which at some point will need to be addressed to meet the challenges of education. I think you are going to need to watch Chapter 70 funding and the impact it might have on future budgets. And, lastly, I think remote learning is here to stay, so you’re going to need to look for ways to improve how we train staff and teach students in that environment.”

            White emotionally thanked his family and said it is time for him to give them the 100 percent that he had been giving his career as an educator. “I can’t wait to get to know my grandchildren better and share their lives like I have the many students that I’ve served for the last 35 years,” he said.

            Union-side Chairperson Shannon Finning urged the applauding members to unmute their microphones so White could hear the response. Region-side Chairperson Cary Humphrey added his congratulations. All of this came toward the conclusion of a meeting lasting two hours and 26 minutes.

            Several reports were given and discussions had, the last, from Finning being the need to arrive open-minded for Monday night’s remote access meeting with Barbara Sullivan from Tri-Town Against Racism (see meeting coverage in this edition).

            Earlier in the meeting, Nelson summarized a series of events that during the school year were geared toward raising awareness and educating the faculty about racism. While it was repeatedly stressed that the work of effectively communicating and practicing inclusion will never be finished, Humphrey articulated a regret where it concerns community awareness.

            “As a committee… in hindsight, I wish we made this more public. I don’t think the general public understands the time and energy put into this,” he said. “We want to keep pushing forward so we can improve this so everybody understands we… want to move in the right direction.”

            To that end, White advised the committee to review policies and practices. While ORR believes inclusion is embedded in its curriculum, there was widespread sentiment among the members to be more explicit moving forward, especially as students are confronted with racism locally and nationally. Finning said the transition is an opportunity for ORR’s Central Office.

            Hartley reported to the committee that she had taken the proposal to reexamine policy and curriculum and proposed a third element: individual introspection and commitment. One purpose of the committee, she said, is to maintain the policies. “When I looked for an anti-racism policy, I couldn’t find one,” she said. “I found two across the nation, one that I thought was very good.”

            Hartley proposed that the committee put anti-racism on the meeting agenda and consider putting in a policy. One element of the policy that impressed her expounded that each school in its district should make a statement that reflects that policy and how they do things. “That felt like Old Rochester,” she said.

            Answering member Suzanne Tseki’s question, ORR Principal Mike Devoll said, “We’re only as good as our handbook… I haven’t heard anything I wouldn’t support right now… I’m on board.”

            Member Heather Burke suggested elementary school representation. “That way we can make sure we have buy-in on all levels,” she said.

            In other business, the committee voted to approve the proposed, four-meeting schedule and the proposed Professional Development Plan for the 2020-21 academic year.

            Outgoing member Stefan Gabriel was also thanked for his service to the Joint School Committee.

ORR Joint School Committee / Superintendency Union #55

By Mick Colageo

            Rochester has become the Tri-Town community of choice for those seeking to develop large-scale solar arrays. And that fact has kept the Rochester Conservation Commission very busy for the last several years. On June 16, two continued hearings for proposed solar arrays were once again front and center at the commission’s remote meeting room.

            First up was Hank Ouimet of Renewable Energy Development Partners, Hingham, for property located off Pierce Street known as Eldredge Bogs, owned by Peter Beaton of West Wareham. Representing the applicant was Sarah Stearns of Beals and Thomas, Inc., who told the commissioners that the development team was preparing a response to the peer-review letter which she stated was brief. The two-phase project on agricultural lands would include the creation of more efficient bypass canals and the installation of a canopy solar array over the constructed canal network. The hearing was continued until July 7.

            The second solar project application was filed by Clean Energy, Auburn, for property located at 139 Sarah Sherman Road owned by William Souza. The proposed plans include placement of equipment pads within 100-feet of at least one certified vernal pool. Discussion over the location of the certified pools located throughout the site was the main topic with Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon expressing her concerns.

            Farinon said that tree cutting and canopy loss would impact the temperature and hydrology of the pools and that the applicant needed to prove otherwise. She said of the vernal pool certification process that in 2002 the Lloyd Center asked property owners in Rochester if they wanted wetland features on their lands to be studied for possible vernal pool certification by the state. Several pools were located at that time on Souza’s property. Greg Carey of Clean Energy said that his team was looking at the equipment pad locations for alternatives.

            Rich Rheaume of Prime Engineering said, “We can take a hard look at the vernal pools during the site visit.” The hearing was continued until July 21.

            A Certificate of Compliance was approved for work completed by James and Katherine Hanson at 361 Snows Pond Road.

            Stephen Meltzer, Willow Creek Builders, for a lot located at 13 Horse Neck Road, received a negative determination of applicability for the construction of a new dwelling near and within the 100-foot buffer zone, after redesigning the location of a fresh-water well, moving it some 10-feet farther from wetland resource areas.

            A continuance was granted to SEMASS for tree trimming activities along 141 Cranberry Highway. 

            The next meeting of the Rochester Conservation Commission is scheduled for July 7 at 7:00 pm. Remote meeting details will be posted on the town’s website, townofrochestermass.com.

Rochester Conservation Commission

By Marilou Newell