According to Marion Affordable Housing Trust member Nancy McFadden, the focus group recently held by the Barrett Planning Group for Housing Community Engagement Services lacked focus for lack of a meeting leader.

            McFadden and fellow AHT member Norm Hills nonetheless worked with AHT Chairperson Terri Santos, who could not attend the focus group, to identify key points from a conversation meant to influence Marion’s Housing Production Plan.

            The January 11 AHT agenda called for the trust to discuss its goals and vision, and right now the future of Lockheed Martin’s property adjacent to the Cushing Community Center is at the forefront of speculation.

            Hills and McFadden estimated that approximately 10 people attended the focus group that met with Judy Barrett and went over ideas about Lockheed Martin.

            Santos said feedback from the Planning Board, of which Hills is also a member, indicates that Lockheed Martin is to be kept more light industrial and business in purpose rather than housing.

            Zoning is obviously a question, as Hills explained. Part of the Lockheed Martin property is zoned for light industry and part residential. “There’s no mixed use in Marion,” he said.

            Hills pointed out that the front half of the property is developed and the back half is not developed, leaving the town with a two-part question as to whether someone will be willing to take over the front half of the property and what can Marion do with the back half. “We’re waiting for them to come back to us with options,” he said.

            While there is obvious interest in finding Marion’s senior population with alternatives to houses they can no longer afford or take care of, Hills said that the industrial park at Lockheed Martin may be so old that it might be worth demolishing and starting over. “Nobody’s beating down the doors trying to come in and put an industrial capability in there. Most of the people that work there don’t live in Marion,” he said.

            Santos reiterated that “people need places to live” and solicited suggestions, while noting a rumored benefactor’s interest.

            Hills said the Open Space Acquisition Commission should become involved.

            “Somebody said they could buy it, but again, we don’t know what’s going to happen with it. By the same token, we don’t know what Lockheed Martin’s doing either,” said Hills. “The end of October is getting close for them, a lot of stuff they have to move out of there.”

            In discussing general goals for the AHT, Santos told the members that the trust has been asked to report to the Select Board.

            “The (Housing Production Plan) is going to be the answer to what’s going on,” said Hills, who also serves as chairman of the Marion Select Board. “It’s going to take Town Counsel to help us figure it out.”

            What many in town are looking for is housing for people with moderate and fixed incomes so the focus has been on proposed, mixed-used, village-style developments.

            Another entity that has been involved is the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD). Marion was supposed to deliver information to SRPEDD in December but was granted a contract extension to June.

            Strategies that emerged from the focus group included the pursuit of top-priority zoning amendments, evaluation of methods to incentivize senior development, negotiation of perpetual deed restrictions, and coordination of training and education for AHT membership and residents.

            Santos wrapped up the meeting by asking the membership to think of goals that would contribute to a five-year plan for the town.

            In the reorganization of the trust, former chair Casey Cole-Vieira was named vice chair, and Cynthia Thomas was named clerk. Tangi Thomas had been clerk but relinquished the role.

            The next meeting of the Marion Affordable Housing Trust is scheduled for Tuesday, February 8, at 6:00 pm.

Marion Affordable Housing Trust

By Mick Colageo

Jon Gregory of Tata & Howard updated the Mattapoisett River Valley Water Protection Supply Advisory Committee and Water District Commission in its respective meetings on the engineering firm’s annual report, then fielded questions and comments.

            Even though their memberships overlap nearly 90 percent, the purviews of the committee and the commission vary so Gregory addressed both in their respective sessions. Both bodies voted to accept the draft reports sent with pending matters needing address and report tweaks that came out of the meetings.

            Marion Department of Public Works Director Nathaniel Munafo noticed that the report never announced the result of the study and recommendation regarding the planned filter upgrade for the MRV’s water-treatment plant. Gregory thanked Munafo for the alert and said, based on the April 2021 result that he would confirm in the report that the Koch Puron MP filter was chosen by the district commission.

            ECA Solar invoices were incomplete, the information needed being the amount of the electrical costs saved in 2021 via the company’s program. ECA had billed only through September – October.

            Henri Renauld, the director of the MRV’s water-treatment plant, had been ill and was presumed unable to attend the meeting, but he joined partway through and contributed to the discussion in notifying Gregory that his office keeps a spreadsheet on invoices so that information can be totaled. Gregory suggested waiting until the end of next week and then finalizing the report.

            Also pending was confirmation of the average daily processing of 1,870,000 gallons per day in 2021, down slightly from 1,880,000 in 2020.

            Both the committee and later the commission voted their approval. Gregory said he would finalize the report and send it out as final in both MS Word and PDF formats.

            Gregory also told the committee that there may be a new issue with a level logger in Monitor Well 3D; he will troubleshoot the matter and find out if the equipment can be fixed in the field.

            In February or March, Gregory plans to present Tata & Howard’s quarterly update.

            In her Treasurer’s Report to the commission, Treasurer Wendy Graves reported $80,990.43 in total paid invoices for December, highlighted by Univar at $9,563, Tata & Howard at $2,550, $4,193 and $2,090, and Woodward and Curran at $4,190 and $883.

            Graves also pointed out that the debt schedule requires its next payment of $45,155.48 due on January 15, with $3,386.66 in fees. The commission voted to pay the bill.

            MRV Chairman Vinnie Furtado reported new correspondence in a letter from CPA Robert Brown, whose firm is engaged in examining financial statements for Marion and Rochester. Brown requested information on total bonded debt outstanding for the MRV District.

            In other news, Hub, MRV’s insurance carrier, sent a $1,065 check for overpayment of premium.

            In his Treasurer’s Report, Jeff Furtado reported that the committee paid out $15,338.73 since July while bringing in $73,619.64. The committee’s ending balance on Jan. 1 was $285,830.20. Tata & Howard was paid on invoices of $1,840 and $2,032.90.

            The committee voted to authorize Vinnie Furtado to pay the Tata & Howard invoice of $1,389.87, along with $251.72 to David Watling, $50 to Blair Bailey and $238 to Megan McCarthy for graphic design.

            Before Renauld joined the commission meeting in progress, the committee, which meets before the commission and was in progress, voted to authorize Vinnie Furtado to sign in Renauld’s absence.

            The next meetings of the MRV Water District Commission and Water Protection Supply Committee are scheduled for Tuesday, February 8, at 3:30 pm and 4:00 pm.

MRV Water District Commission/Water Protection Supply Advisory Committee

By Mick Colageo

The January 10 meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission found two local business owners in polite disagreement over a proposal for the construction of a storage garage.

            Grace Knox, owner of DG Service Company came before the commission with a Notice of Intent filing for the construction of a storage garage at her place of business located at 23 County Road.

            Representing Knox, Ken Motta of Field Engineering explained in detail that the project would have no impact on abutting properties with respect to natural or manmade drainage features. He said that a longstanding mound of disturbed ground would be removed, leaving a short berm-like structure on one side to ensure water flow would not impact the neighboring parking area of Sandra Dawson’s real estate office.

            After Motta concluded his presentation, Dawson rose to present concerns centering around current water-flow issues that she said were created when Knox built an addition and a potential for increased drainage onto her property should the garage be built.

            Motta addressed Dawson’s concerns, but Dawson wanted assurances that the proposed construction wouldn’t create more issues on her property. Motta presented photographic evidence that, prior to the addition, Dawson’s property experienced historic water issues and that, in fact, drainage features on Knox’s property was helping improve matters on Dawson’s property.

            Motta said that water on Dawson’s property was not coming from Knox’s side but from Dawson’s own land. “None of the runoff from Grace’s property will go on your property,” he said.

            Chairman Mike King added, “This is a pretty low-impact project.” He said water was flowing in a southwesterly direction in what he described as a “sheet flow.” He said he had made two site visits and that Dawson has the right to appeal the commission’s decision. “You can appeal to the DEP, but if they give a superseding order of conditions you’ll be dealing with the state, not the local commission.”

            The NOI received an order of conditions including a special condition for an operation and maintenance plan for the drainage system.

            The commission issued a Negative Determination of Applicability to Pedro Yae De Leon, 151 Fairhaven Road, for the abandonment of an existing cesspool and connection to the public sewer system.

            Also receiving a negative decision for a filed RDA was a request for the construction of a timber trellis over an existing patio owned by James and Dale Barnes, 69 Mattapoisett Neck Road.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission is scheduled for Monday, January 24, at 6:30 pm.

Mattapoisett Conservation Commission

By Marilou Newell

            Mattapoisett School Committee members Carly Lavin and Tiffini Reedy pushed back on the proposed inclusion of Wednesday, November 23, as part of the Thanksgiving Day break when the 2022-23 draft school calendar was discussed during Monday night’s committee meeting.

            “I think it’s just a little choppy … might be a fan of being at least a half-day on the 23rd,” said Lavin, adding that most public-school districts on the south coast attend a full day of school on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. “I prefer to see less extra days throughout the year so kids can get home (for summer vacation.)”

            The Mattapoisett School Committee, said Old Rochester Regional District Superintendent Mike Nelson, does not vote on the academic calendar, the Joint School Committee does. But Nelson added that such dialogue is an essential ingredient to the process of arriving at the final calendar and that he would report that feedback when the JSC meets on Monday, January 20.

            Also proposed is early dismissal on December 22 for Christmas break. Students would return on Monday, January 2, 2023.

            August 30 would be the first day of the 2022 – 23 academic year and barring cancellations, June 16, 2023 would be the last.

            Other off-days include but are not limited to: October 10 Indigenous People’s Day aka Columbus Day; October 25 parent conferences; November 10 full professional development day; April 7 no school; and April 20 – 24 spring vacation.

            Reedy questioned why April 7 is a day off as a “Catholic” holiday but there are no other religious holidays on the school calendar. Nelson said he would bring that concern to the JSC.

            Member Karin Barrows asked if should school extend three days beyond the prescribed calendar, Juneteenth would be an off-day held on June 19. Nelson said, yes, provided it falls into the actual school calendar.

            Lavin also asked if the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is counting hours or days toward the establishment of a full academic year. Nelson said the state authority now considers both days and instructional hours.

            The subject of limitations reached the school committee itself when Committee Chairman Jim Muse received pushback after telling the membership that he would like to adopt a goal for all regular school committee meetings to be limited to 90 minutes and subcommittee meetings to 60.

            “I don’t think it’s appropriate to put a limit. … I don’t support that cap,” said Lavin, who indicated that targeting 90 minutes is a reasonable approach.

            Clarifying his request, Muse said discussions aiming toward a committee vote should not limit debate, but questions about presentations can be addressed as follow-up opportunities. “Meetings that last two, three and four hours, are not fair,” said Muse, who insists on maintaining a 20-minute block for public comment. He sought no vote on the matter, only a show of support to engage in a policy.

            “I understand sometimes there are lengthy presentations, but the number of meetings that are necessary, it demands that we give some opportunity to the administration to manage this,” said Muse, noting that members can further the cause by planning their comments and reading the agenda and minutes in advance of meetings.

            Barrows suggested labeling the agenda, noting which items will require votes. Lavin and member Carole Clifford supported Barrows’ point. “If we do that, we don’t need a limit. … To put a limit, I do not agree with,” said Clifford.

            Muse reiterated his clarification that, “If there’s something that requires debate, then we’ll debate as necessary. But I would like to plan to complete our work within a 90-minute period.”

            In her Principal’s Report, Rose Bowman celebrated a grant involving Lisa Lourenco, a technology teacher in both the Center and Old Hammondtown schools. A $6,000 grant from Worcester Polytechnic Institute was procured thanks to the suggestion of WPI alumna and Mattapoisett School Committee member Frances Kearns. Lorenco helped write the grant.

            The grant will include robotic equipment and four professional-development days with the team from WPI. It will provide children with the opportunity to receive additional education and materials. Lourenco, who has also been working with Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School to bring such opportunities to ORR students, drove to Worcester to get the materials. “Teachers and administrators go the extra mile to make this a great school system,” said Muse.

            Bowman also discussed the Mattapoisett PTA and Cultural Council’s plans for a presentation with artist Bren Bataclan, who will visit classrooms in grades K-3 at Center School on Friday, January 21. Half of Bataclan’s fees will be covered by a grant from the Cultural Council.

            Nelson indicated that several Budget Subcommittee meetings have occurred, resulting in substantial progress with the FY23 draft budget. The next step, he told the school committee, is inviting a member of the Mattapoisett Finance Committee and Town Administrator Mike Lorenco. Once Muse determines that the subcommittee is ready to bring the budget to the school committee, the latter will approve a budget figure and bring that to Town Meeting.

            Director of Student Services Craig Davidson reported on the tiered, focused monitoring audit update that Nelson called “a cumbersome process,” crediting Davidson for his work. “I couldn’t ask for a better team,” said Davidson, thanking special educator Jennifer Rusinoski for “outstanding” work with Julie Evans at DESE. “We did not have a single problem with the audit (no findings) … and we’re very proud of that.”

            In his Central Office Administrator’s Report, Nelson announced that the state mandate on mask wearing in public schools has been extended through February 28. Acknowledging the Covid surge, he said, “I’m very proud that our school continues to offer in-person learning.”

            Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber was unable to attend on Monday, but Nelson told the membership that Barber had sent them expenditures, along with facilities and food service reports. He said that there is $540,000 remaining in the budget to begin January 2022.

            In her report, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Jannell Pearson-Campbell told the committee that Loretta Laroche will present to the faculty on stress management on Tuesday, January 18, as part of professional development.

            In his report, Davidson said that through Mattapoisett’s test and stay program with school nurses, 1,277 school days have been saved.

            A 10-part series on community talks has been launched on ORR’s themes of social-emotional learning, 21st century learning and global citizenship. Part 1 on managing anxiety was held on January 5, and Part 2 will be advertised in the coming weeks. “We could not believe how many people signed up,” said Nelson. “The first event, over 100 registered and over 60 stayed the whole session (90 minutes.)”

            Muse summed up his Chairperson’s Report by thanking all staff, teachers and administrators, recognizing Bowman, the superintendent of Mattapoisett public elementary schools. “We’re very lucky,” he said.

            The committee entered executive session and only returned to adjourn.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett School Committee is scheduled for Monday, February 28.

Mattapoisett School Committee

By Mick Colageo