The thinktank that is the Marion Energy Management Committee met on Monday night via Zoom to discuss myriad challenges, circumstances, and concepts. Even ideas were batted around as the town seeks opportunities to help establish itself as a Green Community eligible for additional grants to fund projects that will meet needs both short and long-term.

            While Marion is engaged in various stages of projects ongoing and planned, how it goes about achieving building and repairing of facilities and properties is something the Energy Management Committee constantly ponders, discusses, and researches. When its members come together, it’s a round-the-table, round-the-world visitation to subjects that may have near or far-ranging potential impact.

            Almost all of the ideas and revelations that come forth from the EMC could potentially contribute to a five-year goal being monitored by committee member Bill Saltonstall, who reported that Marion has reduced energy use by 14.3 percent in the last three years. The town needs to reach a 20-percent-reduction goal over the next two years.

            “I think we have a fighting chance to get to our 20 percent,” said Saltonstall. Marion must achieve 20 percent in energy savings over the five years ending in 2022 in order to continue the grant program “so it’s important we get there.”

            Part of the immediate challenge is sorting through apparent distortions in Marion’s electricity bills.

            “For some reason, it appears on our street lights (that) a couple of accounts were left out of our records, so it looks as if (right after Marion installed LED bulbs on street lights) that we tripled our expenses,” said Saltonstall, who suspects that certain accounts are missing from the town’s profile.

            After Marion had installed energy-efficient bulbs, Eversource was still charging on sodium bulbs, but Saltonstall told the committee that situation has been fixed.

            Posing a challenge to further progress, the Community Center, previously owned by the VFW, now receives heat and electricity from the town, constituting added energy use. “No way we can shake that, it’s a Marion facility now,” said Saltonstall.

            On the other hand, the town’s recent sale of property on Atlantis Avenue takes that energy expenditure off the books.

            EMC Chairperson Christian Ingerslev openly hoped that energy spent at the Community Center will be offset by the reduction at Atlantis Avenue, “but heat pumps may help us also.”

            Saltonstall cautioned the meeting that, while the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a sharp reduction of electricity and gas at Sippican School in the spring, that consumption will increase in the fall. It is hoped that insulation and LED lighting throughout the school will help. He also hopes a grant will come through to install storm panels on Taber Library windows.

            Now that the Town House is no longer the leaky old building it was prior to recent renovations including weather-stripped windows, it has gotten “stuffy” according to Saltonstall, who thinks there is an affordable solution. A heat-recovery ventilator that would be installed separately from the building’s heating system is designed to suck out stagnant air and replace it with fresh air. Installation requires minimal invasion to the building “so it’s a pretty easy system to put in,” he said. The question will be available funding.

            “We want to provide makeup air so we can have a fresh atmosphere in there,” said Saltonstall in a follow-up call.

            Town Manager Gil Hilario reported having applied last week in the $11,000 grant category for a net-zero feasibility study for a new DPW facility at the site of the town’s wastewater treatment plant.

            Saltonstall envisions a new, 10,000 square-foot building with waters available for a ground-source heat pump, a roof large enough to support solar panels, and a radiant floor. “We’re not trying to make this fancy, we’re just trying to make it less expensive to operate,” he said.

            Ingerslev estimates that the additional costs of a ground-source heat pump (geothermal system) are returned in 5-10 years, and the life of the system is approximately 25 years.

            Marion’s initiatives toward Green Community status will focus on the wastewater treatment plant itself. Citing the next round of grant funding, Hilario reported having met with DPW Director David Willett and said he would like to conduct a walk-through of the facility with Eversource, which surveyed the site on June 14. It would seem the town has come to accept the limitations on solar panels not to expand to the slopes of the Benson Brook landfill due to its steep sides.

            Green Communities grants award information is expected later this summer. Existing awards must be spent by next spring, according to Hilario, who expects any awarded projects to be completed in January.

            The committee agreed to recommend the parking area across Front Street from the Music Hall at Island Wharf for a vehicle charging station. The Board of Selectmen will need to approve in order to pursue a grant for installation.

            Saltonstall asked whether the public would be assessed fees for usage. Hilario said Assistant Town Administrator Judy Mooney would need to determine a fiscally responsible course of action.

            Committee member Eileen Marum asked what has happened to the charging stations that existed on the property formerly owned by the town on Atlantis Drive. Hilario said he will inquire. Ingerslev asked him to address the matter at the committee’s next meeting.

            Police cruisers were discussed as a potentially untapped area for energy savings. Saltonstall reported that Marion saved 6,000 gallons of gasoline in 2017 by leasing hybrid vehicles (from 32,000 to 26,000 gallons). “Those are big numbers, but a police cruiser, if we could possibly get a hybrid for that purpose, it’s supposed to save 2,500 gallons of gas a year,” said Saltonstall, who told the committee he had seen several Ford Interceptor police cars bearing “Hybrid” signs while driving last week to Brunswick, Maine.

            In addition to general fuel savings, hybrid cruisers, said Saltonstall, would avoid burning gasoline while idling at construction sites. Hybrids cut off when the battery is fully charged and come back on, extending engine life. Saltonstall said the hybrid cruisers will be just as hot and well equipped as traditional gas-powered cruisers. A $5,000 incentive grant he thinks would probably make up the difference in price. Saltonstall estimates that Marion buys one police cruiser per year and typically keeps them in service 5-6 years.

            Citing cost as an obvious concern, Hilario said he intends to further discuss their potential with Town Administrator Jay McGrail and Chief of Police John B. Garcia.

            While the four Mitsubishi Outlander SUV (seven-passenger) hybrids use substantially less gasoline than a normal SUV, Saltonstall said the vehicles were not popular with the people using them. “They’re not all-electric. You get a much better grant if you get them all-electric. That’s kind of where it stands. In another year and a half, there will be better ones more suitable for our purposes,” he said.

            According to Saltonstall, Marion has no local gas stations that sell Ethenol-free gasoline. He said no local gas station thinks it will sell fast. Also called “pure gas,” Ethenol-free gas is known to work more efficiently with small-engine equipment like lawnmowers and trimmers. It is generally priced the same as high-octane.

            Robert Fisher is trying to establish for the committee a database on what category of vehicles people drive in Marion, especially to establish the number of electric and hybrid cars in town. Hilario said that more data helps the town plan and that a report “perhaps every other year” would suffice.

            Members of the EMC mused about the potential for a carport at the Community Center parking. The concept is that such a construction could at once support a photo-voltaic solar array (panels atop carports), give vehicles shade, and potentially offer charging stations as the town shifts toward electric-powered vehicles.

            Aspiring committee members Alanna Nelson, Alex Roy, and Tom Friedman attended Monday night’s meeting but only as guests without voting privileges. It was explained to them by Ingerslev that, while the Board of Selectmen did not reject their applications to join, they did hesitate to endorse their addition without a subtraction to maintain an odd number of voting members.

            After meeting with McGrail and committee member Jen Francis, Ingerslev said the most appropriate solution is for Francis make herself an alternate (non-voting) member and all new members to become full members. The completion of that process will go to the selectmen for vote. Then the new members will be sworn in at the Town House.

            The next meeting of the Marion Energy Management Committee is scheduled for Monday, September 28, on Zoom.

Marion Energy Management Committee

By Mick Colageo

            The Mattapoisett Conservation Commission supported a construction project at 3 Pinebrook Lane, despite objections from an abutter during the commission’s Monday night, remote access meeting.

            A Request for Determination of Applicability was filed by Rene Macie and Sheila Ryan-Macie, for approval to proceed with the construction of a third bay on their garage and fencing along the back of their property within the buffer zone of bordering vegetated wetlands. The garage addition would measure 25 feet, 8 inches by 18 feet.

            Historic stormwater drainage problems in the area have caused flooding in the basements of some properties in the neighborhood. Currently, the Highway Department is working on plans to upgrade the drainage systems in the area.

            Abutter Charles Motta, who lives at 26 Holly Lane, spoke against the changes to the property.

            “The lot has been stripped of trees… I wish they would plant some trees to absorb some of the water,” said Motta, who believes drainage onto his property has been created by the subdivision on Pinebrook Lane. He also said that a detention pond on the property has not been maintained.

            Chairman Mike King responded, “Mass DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) at your request did a site visit prior to the construction of the home. All systems were installed as required by DEP. This property is not causing your problems. The project as proposed is permittable. The commission is not in a position to compel anyone to plant trees. The town manager is working with the Highway Department on your behalf.”

            The project received a negative determination of applicability.

A Notice of Intent filed by Kathleen and William Sylvia to raze a house and build another at 41 Cove Street was continued until September 14. Engineer Rick Charon detailed the scope of the project as razing of existing one-bedroom dwelling on a barrier beach for a new home to be built atop 12 pilings driven 20-feet below grade. The construction would take place within buffer zones of the coastal shoreline and salt marsh. Charon indicated that the project proposes the removal of approximately 750 square feet of beach grass that will be replanted under the elevated structure and the addition of 100 cubic feet of beach sand for beach nourishment.

“Two words should be remembered: coastal resiliency,” said King, who said he would take the proposal under advisement but wants to research other design options for the barrier beach.

An Enforcement Order at 37 Water Street was continued until September 14 to give a wetland scientist time to develop remediation plans for the non-permitted use of weed killer along a perennial stream that discharges into the town beach.

Remediation is underway at 42 Marion Road after an Enforcement Order was issued for non-permitted disturbance to jurisdictional areas.

Michael and Patricia Donovan at 3 Pepperbush Lane received a negative determination of applicability for their plans to build a deck and shed within 108 of a perennial stream. 

George Payne, representing owners at 55 Brandt Island Road, received a negative determination -of applicability for plans for an above-ground pool and deck within the 100-foot buffer zone to bordering vegetated wetlands.

Cheryl A. Engle-Belknap and Greg Carlisle also received a negative determination of applicability for their plans to upgrade a single-family home at 34 Fairhaven Road which sits partially within a mapped flood zone.

Patrick and Lisa Matthews have filed a Notice of Intent at Park Place for a new home with a walk-out basement within the buffer zone to a bordering vegetated wetland. King asked for permanent fencing to denote the boundary of the wetlands. The case was continued to September 14 to allow for public comment.

Donald and Carol Lamarr received a negative determination of applicability for their 40×50 foot garage proposal within a mapped flood zone at 5 Tallman Street.

The RDA filed by Brian and Patricia O’Neill for work at 11 Mechanic Street was continued to September 14, as the scope of the project has decreased, new plans pending.

Peter Saccone’s Notice of Intent for construction of a new home at 2 Park Lane was conditioned.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission is scheduled for September 14 at 7pm.

Mattapoisett Conservation Commission

By Mick Colageo

            While the hybrid model to be used by Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School resembles that to be used by Old Rochester Regional School District in name, Old Colony will only offer in-person learning on a hybrid model to its vocational-technical students, whereas strictly academic students will study on a fully remote platform.

            Furthermore, Old Colony’s vocational-technical students will cycle on and off the school’s Rochester campus on a two-week cycle (ORR students will physically attend school two days per week). Old Colony will divide its vocational-technical student body into two groups.

            “Grades 9/11 will attend one cycle, while grades 10/12 attend the other. This results in an approximate 50/50 split,” wrote Superintendent-Director Aaron Polansky in an email to The Wanderer.

            Beginning September 9, Students will participate 7:40-10:30 am in orientation days. Here is the orientation schedule: Freshmen (last names A-K) on Wednesday, September 9; Freshman (last names L-Z) on Thursday, September 10; Juniors only on Friday, September 11; Sophomores only on Monday, September 14; and Seniors only on Tuesday, September 15. 

            According to information disseminated during the Old Colony Regional School Committee’s August 19 meeting, faculty may contact students, but the orientation days are not part of the school’s 170-day academic year that officially begins with the opening day of school on Wednesday, September 16.

            In addressing the academic calendar during the August 19 meeting, Polansky said he overlooked April 2, 2021 (Good Friday), and said he had to add a day to the end of the school calendar to achieve the state requirement of 170.

            Students attending the Rochester campus will be transported by First Student, the only bus company to bid on the transportation of Old Colony students, according to Business Manager Sarah Griffith.

            Griffith reported nine vendors pulled the bid this year, but only one responded, a scenario she considers typical. First Student has been the district’s bus company for the past three school years.

            The one bid asked for a five-year contract with what Griffith called “very fair pricing that I think the school district will be able to fit into our budget.” She recommended that the committee award First Student a five-year contract with two option years. The five-year contract was approved at the committee’s last meeting.

            School Committee Chairperson Shirley Bourque was happy to see First Student continue with the Old Colony district. “Quite frankly, the experience we’ve had with First Student these last three years… this last contract, has been a very good relationship,” said Bourque. 

            “Their customer service… to the students, the parents, and the school district has been fantastic,” said Griffith. School Committee member Evelyn Bouley responded, “So you’re saying the one before was lousy?” Griffith reiterated her remarks referencing First Student.

            Bouley, who had missed the school committee’s prior meeting due to a miscommunication, is opposed to the five-year term because “It’s just a big part of the budget,” she said. “It’s a lot of what we do and what we save and what we bring in and who we respect.”

            Committee member Robert Marshall, representing Lakeville, pointed to the $4,170,610 pricetag and clarified with Griffith that the amount covers the five-year term. Griffith said option years will come up in School Committee in spring 2025.

            Bouley’s was the lone opposing vote.

            Jolene Costa proposed using the school’s website as the official posting location for public meetings and agendas, citing difficulties reaching the town clerks’ offices amidst staff shortages brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Costa clarified that, if Old Colony adopts her proposed measure, the affected towns do not have to post the meetings per state law.

            “I just have to give (town clerks offices) the direction on where the public can find the posting,” she said. “Out of courtesy, I will still send postings to them and they can choose to file them, but they don’t have to post if they don’t want to.”

            The School Committee approved the motion. Henceforth, Old Colony will post on its own website to maintain compliance with state Open Meeting law.

            The School Committee approved two coronavirus-related proposals made by the Policy Subcommittee: The first is an (EBCFA) requirement to wear a facemask while in the school building even if maintaining a six-foot distance from other people (the state-mandated measure for mask requirement); the second outlines all of the policies with any amendments.

            Polansky also discussed the school cafeteria, a self-funded program in need of creative ways to supplement lost income due to the pandemic. Meals will be made available for families to purchase, group dinners, and group lunches.

            “If for some reason we have any concern… regarding revenues, we will revisit the data in September,” he told the committee, praising the work of Old Colony Nutrition Director Crystal Andrade. “What Crystal and Sarah (Griffith) have done to resurrect that program is really a beautiful thing, and it is a testament to Crystal’s management skills… She is truly the epitome of the person we want leading that charge.”

            “I have a funny feeling the majority of the Bourque family will be having supper at Old Colony,” said Bourque, bringing laughter as she cited an opportunity to benefit the community. School Committee member Don Foster playfully suggested all Old Colony meetings becoming dinner meetings.

            In answer to Rochester representative David Hughes’ question, “Will all the students be eating primarily in the cafeteria?” Polansky explained a staggered approach to ensure safe distancing. “What we’ve done is students who are not buying lunch during their lunch period will report immediately to the gymnasium,” he said. “We cannot fit every student into the cafeteria so there will be multiple shifts for eating” in two locations at a minimum 6 feet apart.

            Gym classes will be held via the remote-learning portion of the curriculum.

            The next meeting of the Old Colony Regional School District is scheduled to be held on September 16.

Old Colony Regional School Committee

By Mick Colageo