Planning Begins for FY21 Budget

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            During the June 30 meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen, the primary focus was on planning a revised FY21 budget.

            Retired Town Administrator Mike Gagne, along with current Town Administrator Mike Lorenco, explained to the board what early steps have been taken as the town faces revenue shortfalls related to business declines in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

            Gagne began by saying that he believed the board was correct in postponing the annual town meeting and taking a one-twelfth approach to running the town while awaiting better data on local and state revenues. “This gives you some breathing room,” he said. Before the March announcement that the state was in quarantine, schools were to close, and most businesses shuttered, Gagne said the Finance Committee and the town’s department heads had nearly completed work on the FY21 budget.

            “We were getting ready for a consensus budget,” he said.

            Now faced with what he and Lorenco estimate could be revenue losses between 10 and 15-percent, it’s back to the drawing board. Revenue sources such as motor-vehicle excise taxes represent two-thirds of the town’s receipts, Gagne stated, and until the town has closed the books on FY20 any decrease in revenue is speculative. “We’ll be in a better position to firm things up when the state aid is announced,” he said.

            Gagne said that, by looking at the 2010-11 recession, a measured approach to decreasing revenue projections can be made. But he also wanted to share some positive fiscal news. He explained that the Board of Selectmen had voted to move municipal health insurance coverage to the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association offered through the Massachusetts Municipal Association.

            “It’s the largest group of its kind,” he said. The group was able to reduce the town’s costs in this category by 4.5-percent for a savings of $125,000 to the town and an equal amount to the enrolled employees. “The plan,” Gagne said, “also offers improved coverage for dental and hearing aids.”

            Lorenco said that in crafting a revised FY21 budget local revenue projects were trimmed by 12-percent and new growth by 25-percent. He said that cuts and adjustments to the original FY21 budget represent a reduction of $440,000, a 20-percent cut over last fiscal year. “It’s the best position for the town,” he said. Lorenco added that $150,000 had been used from the debt stabilization fund for the new Fire Station engineering costs, but that overall cuts in revenue projections and expenses had been planned for FY21.

            Lorenco said that, in terms of securing some funding to offset the impact of COVID-19, the town had applied for $150,000 from the Plymouth County Cares program which manages funds from the Federal Care Act that was passed by Congress on March 27 to provide some financial relief to states in  mitigating the financial impact of COVID-19. “Between July 1 and September 30, we have an additional $500,000 to use,” he said.

            FEMA funding was also discussed, as was a grant applied for by the police department in the amount of $50,000 to overset overtime expenses. “All of this will help to make up losses,” Lorenco said. “We’ve got a hiring freeze in place and will delay capital purchases that aren’t needed at this time. We’ll look at the 10-year Capital Plan to see what can be pushed out.” Lorenco also indicated that meetings with the Finance Committee and Capital Planning Committee would be scheduled to set a new budget for the upcoming but yet-to-be scheduled town meeting.

            The selectmen also met remotely with the incoming Library Director Jennifer Jones, who said she looked forward to working in Mattapoisett. Lorenco said that outgoing Library Director Susan Pizzolato will stay on during a transition period and to help with the library reopening.

            Selectman Paul Silva asked how businesses were performing to the guidelines set by the Board of Health, as restaurants began serving customers in outdoor settings and other businesses returned to providing goods and services. Lorenco said there had been a few issues with masks not being used properly, but he said that after conversations, some which included licensing and permits to operate, most businesses were in compliance. He thanked those businesses that have cooperated and offered assistance to those establishments that might need additional help or guidance.

            Lorenco also took the time to laud Elizabeth DiCarlo of Mattapoisett for being selected as a member of the 2020 Class of Commonwealth Heroines. This recognition is given to women from throughout the commonwealth whose work has advanced the role of women, calling them “positive changemakers.”

            Legislators are asked by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women to select a woman from their area who represents the best-of-the-best. In selecting DiCarlo, Representative Antonio Cabral noted “…her work on multiple fronts over the past 40 years.” He said DiCarlo served people from Central America, those devasted by HIV/AIDS, those needing access to affordable housing, and efforts to mitigate discrimination faced by LGBTQ people. Her list of accomplishments also includes being a registered nurse and community organizer for over 50 years. Lorenco said a congratulatory letter would be sent to DiCarlo.

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

Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen

By Marilou Newell

Sippican Historical Society

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Historical Society maintains an extensive collection of documentation on its historic buildings. In 1998, the Sippican Historical Society commissioned an architectural survey of Marion’s historic homes and buildings. Over 100 were cataloged and photographed. SHS will feature one building a week so that the residents of Marion can understand more about its unique historical architecture.

            This week we feature 510 Point Road. The home at 510 Point Road is a substantial frame residence exhibiting the boxy, hip-roofed form of an 18th-century Georgian residence. The origin of this house is unclear since it does not appear on the 1855 Marion map, an omission that could be a cartographer’s error. By 1867, this home was owned by Charles D. Ellis, who was a farmer and one of two constables for Marion in the mid-1870s. By 1903, Charles D. Ellis, a laborer, lived here along with Catherine D. Ellis and Archibald W. and William H. Ellis, both carpenters.

Betty (Connors) Webster

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Betty (Connors) Webster, 96, of Marion passed away at home on Wednesday June 24, 2020. She was married to the late Dr. Jean J. Webster for 35 years and the late Dr. Francis Kirby for 14 years.

            Born in New Bedford, she was the daughter of the late Cornelius and Julia (Smith) Connors. She was a graduate of Holy Family High School, Bridgewater State College, and received a Master’s Degree from Boston College. She taught school in New Bedford prior to her marriage to Dr. Webster in 1953.

            Betty was a former member of the Women’s Golf Association of the Country Club of New Bedford. She had been a docent at the New Bedford Whaling Museum for many years and was one of the originators of the Rotch-Duff-Jones House Museum.

            She is survived by her children, John Webster of Marion and his fiancée Beth Taylor of Fairhaven, Cornelia Webster Musser of Mattapoisett, Jeanie Webster Holmes and her husband E. Bradford Holmes of Wellesley and Marion, and Mark Webster and his wife Ro Webster of Chatham and Boston; and her grandchildren, Christina Musser and Elizabeth and Ned Holmes.

            She was the sister of the late Neal J. Connors.

            Her Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Monday July 13, 2020 at 10 am at St. Anthony’s Church, Mattapoisett. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, New Bedford. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made in Betty’s name to Coastline Elderly Services, 1646 Purchase St., New Bedford, MA 02740 or https://coastlinenb.org/. Arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Mattapoisett. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Old-School Strategies Still Ring True in Mosquito, Tick Season

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            In a presentation entitled “The Bugs That Bug You,” Blake Dinius, the entomologist educator for the Plymouth County Extension, hosted a webinar on Monday aimed at educating county residents on Tick and Mosquito Biology, Ecology and Bite Prevention.

            The theme of the webinar was “blood-feeding” and included a historical sketch mixed with educated guesses as to how the northeastern seaboard became such a center for Lyme Disease and mosquito infestation.

            To wit, ticks are 400 million years old, even predating dinosaurs, while mosquitos are more recently developed, estimated to have existed for 200 million years. ”Why do they suck so badly?” asked Dinius without the slightest hint of sarcasm. He then proceeded to rattle off one interest fact after another, setting the table for some advice that was based on important truths and common sense.

            Fun facts featured the following: Only female mosquitoes look to drink our blood, and they do it directly from blood vessels for necessary egg production. Ticks are long-term feeders and create feeding lesions, and they spend from 4-7 days feeding on a wound they create. As the tick feeds, it injects things that keep a person from feeling an inflammatory response. Mosquitoes are technically pollinators and feed on nectar. Ticks only feed on blood their entire life.

            Things have changed for the worse in recent years where it concerns pathogens and diseases resulting from tick and mosquito bites.

            From 1900-1920 there was only one disease associated with tick bites. In the past 20 years, it’s not only the number of diseases that have increased but the number of cases. Lyme Disease cases are mostly along the northeast coast and to a lesser extent in the upper midwest.

            Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) is the most concerning mosquito-borne disease; 2019 was “a banner year.”

            This amount of and kind of information can be troubling to many who live here, but Dinius says not to get caught up in gloom and doom.

            “If you just focus on what’s going on the news, I can see you becoming an incredibly anxious individual. And so, while I’m glad we have freedom of the press, we want to (dissect) what’s going on here,” he said.

            Speculation abounds as to why Lyme Disease was only recently discovered, and Dinius thinks that it’s long flown under the radar, like since the last ice age 60,000 years ago.

            Factors in how these creatures have become more of a nuisance are multifaceted, including environmental as our hunter-gatherer ancestral society encountered fewer pathogens, and our 40,000-year-old agrarian/agricultural society is likely to blame. An 1888 study suggested the destruction of wild hosts and wild habitat, replaced by community living and, starting 14,000 years ago, domesticated animals.

            More ticks (thanks to the changing habitat) may have been diverted (by us) away from feeding on rabbits, for instance. The result of the compounding factors likely led to more disease. Lyme and EEE, among other diseases, says Dinius, cycle between ticks and mosquitoes and certain respective non-flying and flying animals.

            Often thought of as a germ, Lyme is bacteria, a living organism with its own life-cycle. Mice get the bacteria and pass it on to ticks; humans cannot pass it back.

            New England’s domination of Lyme may be due to close contact with an expanding number of hosts (i.e. deer). Deer disinfect ticks from Lyme and don’t get sick doing so. The infection rate of Lyme comes from small animals.

            With its white-cedar swamps, the northeast is a perfect breeding ground for Lyme and for EEE. Mosquitoes also breed in trash, including large discarded items like tires. Degrading habitats contributes to increasing mosquito population.

            Dinius discussed the topic of climate change with the caveat that he considers himself unqualified to decide that climate change does or does not exist. But he gave examples of how warm temperatures accelerate the reproductive cycles of mosquitoes.

            Strategies for our survival are based on a triangular relationship between the pathogen (Lyme), the vector (tick), and the host (human).

            The pathogen-vector relationship can be affected somewhat by aerial spraying and the control of animal populations such as the removal of deer or mice; the pathogen-host relationship can be affected by a vaccine, but the most important relationship that Dinius focuses on is the vector-host relationship because that’s the over which humans have a realistic amount of control.

            We can buy and apply repellents or spraying in our yards, or even benefit from aerial spraying.

            “I never let a tick or a mosquito scare me from doing something I enjoy doing,” said Dinius, who enjoys fly fishing and camping.

            Ticks dwell in the soil, and only 6.3 percent are active at a time. They require 82 percent humidity for survival so a tick inside a house is almost doomed.

            Mosquitoes are aquatic organisms and need access to water to survive.

            While there are many theories on what makes a yard more susceptible to an invasion of larval ticks, a 2019 study isolated a few contributing factors. On the negative side, being near a forest, having a rock wall, or having trash on the ground all attract the tick population, while a solid fence discourages the same. Logs, animals, plants and gardens, and even a warning track between the yard and the woods won’t make a difference.

            A neat yard discourages ticks, and raking leaves will reduce the population by 75 percent.

            Yard sprays are more effective against ticks than they are against mosquitoes. For ticks, use a pyrethroid-based (synthetic) spray, first spraying in early May, and then in early June; repeat annually. Dinius says the all-natural sprays do not work, but because he is confident in other strategies he does not spray his own yard. Dinius considers several sprays to be beyond unnecessary, calling it ineffective and reckless – and if commercially done then it’s unethical – while overexposing the resident to compounds.

            Dinius says a professional sprayer should cost around $300 per year. Spraying should be confined to the perimeter and not the entire lawn; 82 percent of ticks in yards are within 8 feet of the edge.

            If you do it yourself, buy a spray that is EPA registered and made for lawns and gardens, one that says it controls deer ticks or ticks, and is listed as “ready to use” or “ready to spray.” That way you can avoid mixing and just hook it up to your garden hose. Do not spray flowers in bloom. Follow listed instructions on the container to the last detail.

            When it comes to mosquitoes, homeowners often look toward a stagnant pond down the street as the culprit, but they often overlook the breeding grounds on their own property. Mosquitoes can breed in the amount of water it would take to fill a bottle cap. Dinius recommends keeping water moving or replacing it frequently.

            Yard sprays can control ticks for a whole year; for mosquitoes, they don’t last more than a day or a week depending on product, technique, wind, time of day, and species. Dinius says spraying for mosquitoes only makes sense as a short-term strategy for the sake of an event like a backyard wedding.

            The best technique for personal prevention is to cover up. In the case of mosquitoes, that can mean wearing a head net; in the case of ticks, it always means tucking one’s pants into his or her socks.

            Time of day matters for mosquito bites. While 34 of 428 pools of mosquitoes tested during the day were carrying EEE and one in 87 were carrying West Nile Virus, those ratios exploded at twilight and night to 394 of 428 for EEE and 86 of 87 for West Nile.

            The lasting impression from Dinius’ wealth of experience and knowledge is that what we know most reliably we’ve actually known for a long time.

            Tick testing costs $15 for Plymouth County residents and $50 for those living outside Plymouth County.

            For more information, visit the University of Rhode Island’s TickSpotters at tickencounter.org/tickspotters and the UMass TickReport at.tickreport.com.

By Mick Colageo

Janet (Cynar) Rosa

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Janet (Cynar) Rosa, 70, of Fairhaven passed away Thursday April 9, 2020 at St. Luke’s Hospital.

            Born in New Bedford, the daughter of the late Walter M. and Mary (Springer) Cynar, she lived in Mattapoisett and Fairhaven for many years.

            Janet was formerly employed Affiliated Professional Services in Wareham as a medical billing coder until her retirement.

            She is survived by her children, Richard J. Rosa and Karen M. Rosa.

            Her Memorial Service was held on Tuesday June 30, 2020 at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. Burial followed in Nasketucket Cemetery, Fairhven. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Buzzards Bay Water Quality

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Water quality conditions measured in Buzzards Bay last summer (2019) offer a stark reminder about the impact of land development, outdated infrastructure, and climate change on the health of the Bay, according to data collected by the Buzzards Bay Coalition. A majority of locations around the Bay showed slight declines in water quality during the summer of 2019. 

            Each week in summer, the Coalition’s volunteer corps of Baywatchers collect water quality data at more than 200 monitoring stations on 30 major harbors, coves, and rivers across Buzzards Bay. These trained volunteers measure temperature, salinity, water clarity, dissolved oxygen, and general weather conditions. This data is combined with laboratory analysis of nitrogen and chlorophyll levels by the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole. These two data sets are combined to produce the Bay Health Index, which scores the health of harbors, coves, and rivers from 0 to 100. 

            Overall, about 37 percent of Buzzards Bay’s waterways are now considered healthy, with “good” Bay Health scores. These waters are characterized by clear waters with visibility greater than six feet deep and high dissolved oxygen levels that allow fish and shellfish to thrive. Another 47 percent of waterways are in “fair” condition. In these areas, algal blooms grow causing cloudy water that makes eelgrass beds become sparse or completely disappear and dissolved oxygen levels periodically drop. The number of waterways in “poor” health, that are severely impacted by too much pollution resulting in murky waters and unhealthy underwater habitats, ticked up slightly to 16 percent. 

            “This year’s data include measurements that were taken shortly after a major rainfall last July that washed elevated levels of nitrogen pollution into the Bay,” said Dr. Rachel Jakuba, the Coalition’s science director. 

            Heavy rainstorms increase nitrogen pollution in the Bay in two ways—through stormwater runoff from properties throughout the region and by overloading wastewater treatment systems that serve our area’s most populated communities. Stormwater runoff washes nitrogen and phosphorus pollutants from failing wastewater systems, fertilizers, and hard surfaces—buildings, parking lots, and roads—directly into the Bay. Heavy rainfall moves the nitrogen quickly in the Bay, short-circuiting the natural processes that remove nitrogen as it percolates from soils or is absorbed by wetland plants. In addition, combined sewer overflows in New Bedford discharge excess untreated sewage directly to nearby streams, rivers or other water bodies. 

            Water quality tests taken last July followed a two-day storm on July 23 and 24 that left between two to three inches of rain throughout the region. An intense storm, such as the one experienced last year, significantly increases pollution in the Bay over the short term. The effect of that event led to a decline in Bay Health index, albeit a modest decline, because the scores reflect a five-year average. 

            Heavy rains delivering huge amounts of runoff to the Bay are expected to be an increasing problem for water quality in the years ahead as climate change increases the frequency and intensity of storms.

            The 2019 Bay Health results, however, also demonstrate the potential for reducing human impacts on the Bay. New Bedford Harbor, for example, continues to show gains in water quality that reflect the city’s efforts to remove combined sewer overflows from its wastewater system. While not yet eliminated, the work that has been done so far has resulted in noticeable improvements in the outer harbor and stabilized readings for the inner harbor, both of which are classified as being in “fair” health.

            “While the high nitrogen levels in many places following the July rainstorm showed the often negative impacts of development on water quality, the 2019 data also show the potential for smart development to have a beneficial impact on water quality,” Jakuba said. 

            The vast majority of nitrogen pollution to Buzzards Bay comes from traditional home septic systems and wastewater treatment plants. Although weather can play a big role in year-to-year changes in the Bay’s health, the largest long-term improvements will happen when we continue to reduce nitrogen from wastewater. 

            Red Brook Harbor in Pocasset demonstrates what can be accomplished by improving wastewater treatment. A private wastewater system that removes nitrogen from the water was built to support a condominium development as well as Kingman Marina and its associated businesses. Since the wastewater plan began its operation, the water quality scores throughout the harbor have climbed, and the outer harbor’s health is now classified as “good,” the result of several years of improved water quality.

            The Coalition is spearheading a regional collaboration among the upper Bay communities in Wareham, Bourne, Plymouth, and Marion that aims to substantially reduce the amount of nitrogen discharged into the Bay. The project would connect more homes to the Wareham wastewater treatment plant, which removes as much as 95 percent of nitrogen from its treated wastewater. First, however, the plant’s discharge pipe must be relocated from the Agawam River to a less-sensitive location. 

            Local residents are also making a difference to reduce nitrogen pollution from septic systems. From Westport to West Falmouth, property owners are upgrading to nitrogen-reducing septic systems through a program organized by the Coalition. The effort, which provides funding and technical support for homeowners to upgrade their septic systems, has resulted in the installation of more than 30 of these systems. 

            These efforts to reduce nitrogen pollution from wastewater around Buzzards Bay will drive long-term water quality improvements. When the baseline water quality is higher, the Bay ecosystem will be able to better handle short-term pulses of nitrogen input from rainstorms.

Academic Achievements

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Leah Przybyszewski of Mattapoisett, has been named to the spring 2020 Dean’s List at American International College (AIC). Dean’s List students are full time students who have achieved a 3.3 to 4.0 GPA. The College commends the extraordinary achievement and commitment of this scholar’s accomplishment during an unprecedented time.

            Late this spring, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) celebrated the Class of 2020 with a socially distanced commencement season in place of its traditional 152nd Commencement exercises.

            Nicole Mattson of Marion was awarded a bachelor of science degree in biomedical engineering with high distinction.

            Alex Tavares of Marion was awarded a bachelor of science degree in computer science with distinction.

            Edward Krawczyk of Rochester was awarded a bachelor of science degree in electrical and computer engineering with distinction.

            Drew Robert of Mattapoisett was awarded a bachelor of science degree in robotics engineering with high distinction.

            Michael Gifford of Marion was awarded a master of business administration degree.

            The following local residents made the Dean’s List at Rochester Institute of Technology for the 2020 spring semester. Degree-seeking undergraduate students are eligible for Dean’s List if their term GPA is greater than or equal to 3.400; they do not have any grades of “Incomplete”, “D” or “F”; and they have registered for, and completed, at least 12 credit hours.

            Daniel Bailey of Rochester, who is in the business administration management program.

            Meghan Johnson of Rochester, who is in the software engineering program.

            Noah Quintin of Marion, who is in the game design and development program.

            James DeMailly of Mattapoisett, who is in the environmental sustainability, health, and safety program.

            The following students have been named to the Dean’s List at the University of New Hampshire for the spring 2020 semester:

            Victoria Quinlan of Marion for earning High Honors. Quinlan is majoring in Women’s and Gender Studies.

            Olivia Ucci of Marion for earning Highest Honors. Ucci is majoring in psychology.

            Taylor Swoish of Marion for earning High Honors. Swoish is undeclared.

            Kristina Sauerbrey of Marion for earning High Honors. Sauerbrey is majoring in nursing.

            Amanda D’Amico of Marion for earning Highest Honors. D’Amico is majoring in musical theatre.

            Megan Iverson of Marion for earning Highest Honors. Iverson is majoring in outdoor education.

            Lauren Pina of Marion for earning Highest Honors. Pina is undeclared.

            Carli Rita of Mattapoisett for earning High Honors. Rita is majoring in occupational therapy.

            Abigail Stark of Mattapoisett for earning Highest Honors. Stark is majoring in occupational therapy.

            Jason Gamache of Mattapoisett for earning High Honors. Gamache is majoring in business administration: management.

            Alexandra Nicolosi of Mattapoisett for earning High Honors. Nicolosi is majoring in biomed/science.

            Caitlyn King of Mattapoisett for earning High Honors. King is majoring in health management and policy.

            Emily Ziino of Rochester for earning Honors. Ziino is majoring in chemical engineering.

            Amanda Colwell of Rochester for earning Highest Honors. Colwell is majoring in environmental conservation and sustainability.

            Carly Demanche of Rochester for earning Honors. Demanche is majoring in business administration: management.

            Aidan Thayer of Rochester for earning Highest Honors. Thayer is majoring in ocean engineering.

            Students named to the Dean’s List at the University of New Hampshire are students who have earned recognition through their superior scholastic performance during a semester enrolled in a full-time course load (12 or more graded credits). Highest honors are awarded to students who earn a semester grade point average of 3.85 or better out of a possible 4.0. Students with a 3.65 to 3.84 average are awarded high honors and students whose grade point average is 3.5 through 3.64 are awarded honors.

            The following local residents were named to the Dean’s List at Saint Michael’s College for the Spring 2020 semester.

            –Justin Shay, a Senior physics major from Rochester (02770) and a graduate of Old Rochester Regional High School.

            –Elsie Buckley, a Sophomore psychology major from Rochester (02770) and a graduate of Old Rochester Regional High School.

Historical Society Donates $150,000 to Town House

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            The work being done around the Marion Town House will continue, thanks to a $150,000 donation from Sippican Historical Society.

            Frank McNamee and Will Tifft represented Sippican Historical Society at Monday’s special, remote access meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen where the latter’s membership voted to accept the donation.

            Selectman John Waterman told the meeting that the work on the front of the Town House has exhausted Community Preservation funds, and that this donation will see the project through its next phase, which includes work on the shrubs out front to open up the front entrance area, along with the addition of new soffits and fascia boards to the building.

            Waterman said that work has started on the roof on the annex that, without this donation, would not be happening, and that next year significant work will be done without needing to ask the taxpayers for help.

            “Without their help right now, our project will be at a standstill,” said Town Administrator Jay McGrail.

            McNamee, who is handing over the reins as president of society to Tifft, said that the late 19th-century architectural gem built for Elizabeth Taber when she was in her 80s may be Marion’s most significant historical building. Having been placed at the center of Tabor Academy’s original campus, McNamee noted that someday the Town House and adjacent Taber Library will look across the park at a bronze statue of their famous benefactor.

            After the board approved the $150,000 donation, McNamee said, “We appreciate working with all of you, and we’ll be part of this project for many years.”

            Also in the meeting, the board voted to approve the proposed pay scale for union employees in the Fire Department.

            “This is sorely needed for the Fire Department; it stabilizes where we are today and where we’re going in the future,” said Fire Chief Brian Jackvony, who said the deal allows Marion to remain competitive and employ the best paramedics available. “The captains look like they fall off the scale over the next two to three years so we will take a look at that.”

            The approved pay grid for union employees begins July 1.

            McGrail noted that the impact on employees in the town’s personnel policy was approved for the FY21 budget at the June 22 town meeting.

            The board also voted to ratify union contracts for the Department of Public Works and for the Marion Town Employees Association, which serves the clerical union.

            McGrail said the deals are one-year extensions of existing contracts with a few terms added in and a plan to launch negotiations on a three-year deal in September or October. “It’s been vetted through town counsel as well; both have been ratified by their unions,” he said.

            Waterman congratulated Hills on his reelection to another three-year term on the Board of Selectmen. Hills was also reelected for three more years on the Planning Board.

            Chairperson Randy Parker took the opportunity to applaud all candidates. “Thanks to all who put their name in the hat to run for the positions… congrats to those who won their elected offices,” he said.

            Waterman noted that, while there were no names on the ballot for Marion and ORR school committees, write-in campaigns produced three winners (see story on Marion election).

            McGrail said he was happy to have a successful town meeting (June 22) in the rearview mirror, and Waterman jokingly referred to the feat as “the ninth wonder of the world.” Hills added that the town can look back at 2020 and how successful Marion has been in its approach to “the whole problem” of the COVID-19 pandemic.

            Marion’s website announced that town offices will be closed on Friday, July 3, and will reopen on Monday, July 6. The next meeting of the Board of Selectmen is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14.

Marion Board of Selectmen

By Mick Colageo

Elizabeth Taber Library

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Curbside pick-up has begun at the Elizabeth Taber Library. Place a hold on Marion library materials online through our website or over the phone. Library staff will call to schedule your curbside pick-up appointment on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Saturdays. For more info on curbside pick-up please email ETLibrary@sailsinc.org or call the library Monday through Thursday from 12:00 to 4:00 pm at 508-748-1252.

            The library is now accepting returns. You can drop off returns at bins provided in front of our book drop Monday through Thursday from 12:00 to 4:00 pm.

            We are once again accepting donations. Please leave donations in provided bins at the rear door of our library Monday to Thursday from 12:00 to 4:00 pm. Please only donate materials in good condition.

            Virtual Summer Reading Programs: Join us Tuesday at noon for Lunch Bunch. Mrs. Grey will read a new chapter each week of Marvin and James Save the Day by Elise Broach.

            Join us Wednesday mornings for Story Time. Mrs. Grey will read three new stories each week.

            Join us for YOGA for Kids. With Elke Pierre Wednesday, July 1 at 2:00 pm for a virtual and interactive event on our Facebook page.

            Take our STEAM Challenge each Thursday at 2:00 and get creative.

Check out our website and Facebook page for more info.

Members of the Tri-Town Communities

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Today, Governor Baker’s Office and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released (DESE Press Release) their initial guidance about reopening schools this fall. We share its goal of safely returning as many students as possible to in-person school settings in order to best meet students’ academic, social, and emotional needs.

            We will immediately start reviewing this guidance and collaborating with key stakeholders to begin to understand how we can best implement it. We also acknowledge that these initial guidelines do not address every topic and that there will be additional guidance coming from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education throughout the summer. The full version of the initial guidance is attached to this email correspondence. Here are some key components from the initial guidance to review:

            Current medical research supports a safe in-person return to school – with preventive measures in place – as infection and transmission rates are lower for children than adults

Preventive measures include masks/face coverings, physical distancing, handwashing, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces

            Masks/face coverings will be required for all students in Grade 2 and above and for all adults; they are recommended for students in Grade 1 and below

            Based upon current medical research, and in conjunction with other preventive measures, a minimum physical distance of three feet has been established

            Our schools will need to develop three separate plans – one for return to full in-person instruction with safety requirements, one for full remote learning, and one for hybrid learning that combines in-person and remote learning. Based upon the current medical situation, the expectation today is that students will return to full in-person instruction in September; however, that is subject to change based upon how the medical situation develops.

            We acknowledge that there are likely to be more questions than answers at this time, and we will continue to communicate with you in the coming weeks and months. We also encourage you to read the full document to best understand this Initial Fall School Reopening Guidance. 

            Thank you for your support, patience, and understanding.

            Respectfully,

Michael S. Nelson, Superintendent-Elect

Old Rochester & MA Sup. Union #55