The Mattapoisett School Committee voted during Tuesday night’s meeting to approve the two-year School Improvement Plan, making it four out of four districts.

            The next step will be to looking at data including MCAS testing results, but the emphasis on the October 26 meeting was on the synergy established between the Old Rochester Regional District and the local elementary schools, in this case Mattapoisett’s.

            Principals Rose Bowman and Kevin Tavares rolled out the two-year School Improvement Plan for the Mattapoisett School Committee.

            In discussing the development of the School Council, Bowman told the committee that teacher-parent parity is critical so the council was built around parental involvement first and then matched with faculty and an administrator to act as a facilitator.

            “The PTA has always worked for us,” said Bowman.

            Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson introduced the meat of the presentation by referring to the district’s Acceleration Road Map. Nelson told the committee that district leadership teams have presented to school committees on Vision 2023 and targets.

            The continuity of district objectives and the implementation of 21st century learning, skills and project-based learning depends on grade-level specialists. Tavares outlined how media, information and technology literacy is being taught with a schedule and goals to share at least one project with peers and, later, presentations outside the classroom.

            Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Dr. Jannell Pearson-Campbell will be involved to see to it that core skills are present in learning plans.

            “The skills that they put in this year will be used next year,” said Tavares.

            In her report on social-emotional learning, Bowman said that not being able to safely meet with the entire student body on a daily basis inside the gymnasium has made the importance of those meetings resonate.

            The 2021-22 school year is about “trying to build that community again,” said Bowman. “We have to separate the kids in the morning, but that unity starts in school. … Even the youngest ones, when you hand the baton to them and say, ‘I trust you,’ it’s amazing how they step to the plate.”

            Theories on student behavior have changed, said Bowman, noting the philosophical shift from the celebration of quietness to being able to share one’s feelings.

            “The Panorama Survey is so critically important. When you ask the children a question, they tell the truth. … When you feel safe and protected, you can learn anything,” she said. “The responsive classroom is something that is ongoing.”

            A four-day training session for teachers and paraprofessionals begins on November 12.

            “Our practice has always been, you have to talk to the child,” said Bowman. “You find, when children are making a choice that you wish they hadn’t, you can bring them back to that. … We’re here to support them not in a punitive way” but with self awareness and management skills.

            Bowman thanked the Mattapoisett Police Department and Resource Officer Matt McGraw for their support of the current initiatives.

            “You don’t want to frighten them, you want to empower them,” said Bowman.

            Educational tools and the implementation of project-based learning programs with targeted goals were also discussed.

            Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber shared the final year-to-date budget by the department through the June 2021 closeout of FY21, announcing that $215 remains in the overall operating budget for the 2020-21 academic year.

            The 2021-22 operating budget of $7,580,872 will see 82 percent go to student instruction obligations. Barber estimated that $915,000 remains unencumbered but will decrease over time via substitute-teacher coverage.

            Lunch counts are up with a full enrollment as opposed to the hybrid division of the student body last year. Barber said the first meal is free for students and that those wishing to access more food requires a premium. Barber said many vendors are still delivering on a weekly basis, affecting inventories and causing last-minute menu changes.

            Barber referred to HVAC inspections in 30 classrooms and said bottled water was available in the schools per Facilities Director Gene Jones. Nelson took the opportunity to thank Jones and Jill Henesy for their leadership especially during the boil-water order.

            Committee member Carly Lavin asked about the tents and the budget effects of the boil-water order. Nelson said the Town of Mattapoisett worked with the schools to make sure the buildings had what they needed for water with no budget impact. Nelson said a damaged tent has had repair parts but will need to be brought down for the winter.

            “I think we’re back to the place where mask breaks are weather dependent,” said Lavin.

            Nelson announced that Patricia Cooney, a certified teacher, will instruct Grade 2 students in Mattapoisett.

            Pearson-Campbell announced that a parent informational session is coming up on November 15.

            Student Services Director Craig Davidson announced a November 2 CEPAC meeting that will include tier-focused monitoring sponsored by DESE; parents can participate. He also announced a January 26 preschool screening event.

            “We’re moving forward. It’s exciting, it can be overwhelming at times. … so much good happening in our schools,” said Nelson.

            Earlier Tuesday, Nelson issued a press release announcing the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) mask mandate for the current school year. DESE Commissioner Jeffrey Riley announced that the state will extend the school mask mandate through at least Jan. 15, 2022.

            In his Chairperson’s Report, Jim Muse said that a “mini emergency” caused him to miss a meeting, prompting the realization that in 10 years sitting on the district and town committees as well as special meetings totaling in the hundreds, it occurred to him that he had never had that happen.

            For Muse, the incident brought to mind the commitment of his colleagues.

            “It is almost incalculable how many hours are spent. … The work is done, decisions are made, every day. It’s pivotal to making things work,” he said. “To that end … I have to tell you just the meeting portion is an enormous, enormous task, and it is one of the most important methods of our communicating. It is worth a lot more than the two hours … so thank you to all of you and special thanks to the administrators in our Central Office and what they do.”

            Tuesday night’s meeting began with the vote to approve two donations.

            Kristen McCormack appeared via Zoom to say that her mother, retired, 90-year-old teacher Luice Moncevitch, only wants to be remembered by a bench at Center School. To that end, a location was sought and the family has committed to pay for the stone bench that will be placed in the spring. The inscription, to be authored by Moncevitch, will be approved in a subsequent vote. “If you know my mom, she would want to pick that out herself,” said McCormack.

            Nelson thanked McCormack for the donation and for her mother’s long service to the community.

            “Recognizing our retired teachers is something we should do, absolutely no less,” said Muse.

            Committee member Tiffini Reedy said she is excited by knowing Moncevitch in another capacity.

            The second donation, from Deborah Antin and also announced by Bowman, is a pair of watercolor paintings for a reading organization. Antin bought them at a charity auction and thinks they would fit nicely in the Center School library.

            Lavin suggested the committee’s vote be conditioned on the results of due diligence of a background check on artist Peter H. Reynolds. Lavin also suggested checking in with the Anti-Racism Subcommittee to see if there are works of art from that group’s connections that deem the same consideration.

            The public meeting ended at 8:43 pm, and the committee entered executive session, only returning to adjourn.

            Originally scheduled to meet again on Monday, November 1, the committee opted to skip that date and keep its date to meet again on Monday, December 6, at 6:30 pm.

Mattapoisett School Committee

By Mick Colageo

            On October 21, the Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals heard two cases for special permits, but it was the second of those two which found not only the applicant Wallace Duncan, 3 Pine Road, answering questions but also the contractor hired to work on his family home.

            Duncan applied for an amendment to a Special Permit previously granted for a garage on the property. Citing the need for off-street parking in the Point Connett beach community, Duncan said by relocating the garage back farther towards the rear setback would allow for four off-street parking spaces in front of the garage.

            After some discussion, however, a more compelling problem was raised – what happened to the house? All that remains of the original structure is the foundation, said Director of Inspectional Services Andy Bobola.

            Coming forward to speak on behalf of his client was Regis Lavoie of Summer Street Builders. Lavoie said that it was always the applicant’s intention to remove the existing first floor in order to build a second floor that would meet code requirements, but Bobola and several board members believe that the previously requested and permitted reconstruction of the residence was granted with the understanding that existing walls would stay in place rather than a complete demolition of the structure.

            Lavoie said it was not a demolition in his mind and that it was clear in the application that the only remaining feature of the original home would be the foundation and nothing more. “I’ve been upfront from the beginning on what we planned to do,” Lavoie asserted.

            But Bobola wasn’t pleased, asking, “Why wasn’t this brought up when you got the permit? … Why didn’t anyone say the decision didn’t match the plan?”

            ZBA Chairman Sue Akin concurred that things were not done as permitted. “You were putting a second floor over the first floor; to me, he has taken the house down.”

            Lavoie responded, “No attempt was made to deceive anybody.”

            “Even if you look at the permit, everything is a new second floor, nothing about taking the house down,” Bobola stated.

            Joyce Lavoie, the office manager for the contractor, attempted to defend their interpretation of what had been submitted and to her thinking what had been approved. But ZBA member Norman Lyonnaise shot back, “How can you be confused? You’re in the business!” Lavoie responded, “Don’t get angry with me, we did build over the first floor.”

            Other ZBA members were not as concerned that a disconnect had occurred between what the board members believe they approved and the work that actually took place. Member Tony Tranfaglia said, “The application did say keeping the first-floor footprint.” And member Bill Cantor asked fellow board members, “Why does it matter?”

            Akin said, “People in the neighborhood were surprised when the home was gone.” Bobola added, “You did a lot more than gut the house.”

            In the end, the board approved the movement of the garage with member Ken Pacheco saying, “Mistakes were made on both sides,” and Cantor offering, “They deserve a swift slap on the wrist and then move on.”

            In other business, a Special Permit was approved for the combining of lots owned by Joseph DiNanno, 0 Dupont Drive, to make one buildable lot.

            No ZBA meetings will be scheduled for the month of November.

Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals

By Marilou Newell

Continued from October 5, three separate public hearings for nearly identical, bordering residential construction projects reached conclusion with the Rochester Conservation Commission on October 19.

            Three Notices of Intent were filed by Lee Castignetti of Long-Built Homes for contiguous lots on Neck Road for the purpose of constructing single-family houses with septic systems and wells.

            Cases DEP SE 272-0613, Map 40, Lot 3D, 3E and 3F were presented by Evan Watson of W Engineering, representing Long-Built Homes. Watson updated the commission on plans to clear trees with the service of loggers to avoid careless treatment of the wood near wetlands.

            Conservation Commission member Maggie Payne complimented the applicant on the addition of a split-rail fence bordering the wetlands and suggested that the commission vet the selection of trees marked for removal.

            Vice Chairman Dan Gagne suggested that, for future reference, the applicant take note of the commission’s policy allowing homeowners to fill out a form and go before the commission to request permissions to remove trees.

            Commission Chairman Chris Gerrior admitted he was stepping out of the commission’s purview in suggesting some sort of tree line to the applicant. Castignetti was amenable to the suggestion.

            Abutter Trent Blanchard, 128 Neck Road, was concerned with tree clearing, taking into consideration the clearing already approved for the adjacent solar project.

            Watson explained that stakes had been placed in the field but there is no restriction on cutting. “If the owner wanted to cut in a regulated area, he would have to apply for a permit to do so,” said the project representative.

            “Now the whole front corner could theoretically be removed. Has that all been taken into consideration?” asked Blanchard.

            Gerrior clarified that the areas to the right side of the yard is in the commission’s purview, but the rest us up to the applicant.

            Rachel Batchelder, an abutter at 155 Neck Road, reiterated Blanchard’s concern with the cumulative effect of tree clearing. “That’s a lot more wetland that’s already being impacted by another project. Are there any modifications that can be made?” she asked.

            “If you look at our plan, where we’re sighting the houses for where we’re actually cutting the trees, everything that we’ve done has been, in respect to where the wetland resource area is on the property,” said Watson. “We have a nice, big lot here where we could place the septic system and the house further back. (There’s) nothing that says we can’t cut trees all the way up to the 25-foot (no touch) zone all the way around so we’re trying to provide a home site on a buildable lot that has enough yard.”

            Commission member Maggie Payne interjected that the commission does take into account when multiple projects are going on in a common area. She said that there will not be significant impact on the same wetlands bordering both projects.

            Gerrior told the representatives that he didn’t anticipate that the commissioners would be able to arrive at an Order of Conditions for three lots, but member Ben Bailey asked what would hold back a decision on the case just presented.

            Having made a motion, Bailey withdrew it upon Payne’s contribution of considerations and a revised Order of Conditions that would include special conditions including the inspection of marked trees, and the commissioners voted to approve. Member Bill Milka recused himself from the three cases.

            After much shorter presentations summarizing similar measures on slightly different lots, the commissioners voted to support the same Order of Conditions.

            Earlier in the meeting, Allen Decker, the director of Land Protection for the Buzzards Bay Coalition, made a presentation on Dogget Brook Farm Conservation project.

            The Buzzards Bay Coalition has acquired the 58.5-acre property off the south side of Marion Road (Route 105) with the intention of finding a farmer who would be able to keep the farm in agricultural production. Decker said the BBC has found a local farmer and has the property transfer in agreement.

            As part of the transaction, the BBC is requiring at closing that the farmer convey a Conservation Restriction over 38 acres of the property intended to keep the agriculture portion of the property over the best soils; a second CR will be acquired by the Rochester Land Trust and the BBC to buffer Dogget Brook.

            “We want to protect the brook’s natural resources so we created a buffer 300 feet inland where the southern-most 20.5 acres would allow no farming but would encourage habitat restoration,” said Decker.

            Decker said the activity supports Rochester as a “right to farm” community. “There were other things proposed for this property over time, that’s why we got involved,” he said.

            Decker displayed several color-coded maps indicating areas of ideal farming soils, the two conservation restrictions, a bio map indicated the area around Dogget Brook where box turtles and other key wildlife thrive, and he provided the commissioners “municipal certifications” that he asked the commission to vote to support and sign for his future appearance before the Board of Selectmen.

            After some questions from the commissioners, a motion to support the CR was made and seconded, but in initiating discussion Bailey identified an acre-sized house lot. Decker clarified that the lot is not covered by the CR so that the owner of the farm can go through the necessary steps to apply to construct a dwelling on the lot, likely by unenrolling 2 other acres from the CR.

            The commissioners voted to write a letter of support and also voted to support and sign the municipal certifications.

            Bill Madden of G.A.F. Engineering, representing A.D. Makepeace Co., could not attend on October 19 so the commission voted to honor his request for a continuance to November 2. Brad Holmes, ECR, told the commissioners that he had received LEC Environmental’s review letter and is presently preparing a draft in concert with G.A.F. Engineering.

            After discussion, the commission voted to maintain its practice of including letters from the public in the packets distributed to the members, what is posted to the town website will be streamlined to maintain information that is strictly project specific, but the letters are maintain as public record available to citizens by request.

            The next meeting of the Rochester Conservation Commission is scheduled for Tuesday, November 2, at 7:00 pm.

Rochester Conservation Commission

By Mick Colageo

            The Marion Energy Management Committee is looking to establish an updated identity in accordance with its current focuses and efforts.

            For several months, a sense of need to make such a change has been brewing, and the membership agreed during Monday’s regularly scheduled meeting on a name change to propose to the Select Board. The members wish to drop “management” and replace it with “climate resilience,” thereby adding a letter to their acronym (i.e., Energy and Climate Resilience Committee = ECRC).

            While acknowledging that the EMC is not authorized to implement and advertise any change until the town’s Hazard Mitigation Plan has been approved and the Select Board endorses the EMC’s intentions, committee Chair Christian Ingerslev thought it appropriate for the membership to settle on an updated identity reflecting the committee’s practices.

            While the members agreed on the end game, Eileen Marum and Jennifer Francis brought differing tactical perspectives to the round table on the committee’s new name, specifically the inclusion of the word “climate.” Francis noted that the word is a non-starter for many who see it as a polarizing and politicized term, but Marum considers climate the driver of the EMC’s charter and therefore essential to the title.

            A conclusion was reached when member Tom Friedman suggested linking climate with the word resilience (the alternative word debated), and all voted in favor, including members Alanna Nelson and Bill Saltonstall.

            Of more immediate urgency was the committee’s sense of ‘carpe diem’ where it concerns two major municipal construction projects facing Marion.

            Given Town Meeting’s vote last week to approve the Marion’s apportionment of matching funds, as required by the Seaport Economic Council’s $303,000 grant for design work toward a new Maritime Center, Saltonstall urged EMC membership to submit opinions on the design.

            Given run of the ship, the EMC would design net-zero buildings for the harbormaster’s new headquarters and the new Department of Public Works. At the very least, the committee believes its suggestions of green utilities should be seriously considered.

            “We’ve got to make sure these things are incorporated in the design work,” said Saltonstall, whose son, Will Saltonstall’s, architectural firm won the bid to design the new DPW and will be guiding the implementation of however the town decides to power up the new facilities.

            Nelson pointed out that, so far, electricity has not been addressed in the plans as laid out for these projects, so now is the time for the EMC to try and influence the projects.

            Ingerslev said that the new DPW will come before Town Meeting in the spring. “We ought to get our ducks in a row,” he said.

            Marion’s year-long wait on Eversource to send a quote for the cost of a connection at the Benson Brook Landfill where the committee had been planning a solar project and massive system upgrades may finally end in November, but EMC members are trying to decipher a message that Nelson relayed regarding an additional $2,000 to $5,000 in fees. Given Eversource’s original quote of approximately $600,000, additions in those amounts would be considered good news.

            According to Saltonstall, the state’s Green Communities program is focused on reducing Marion’s energy use. “They don’t seem to care that the Town of Marion is buying 98-percent of its power from Future Generation Wind,” he said.

            Solar arrays have been discussed at potential locations such as Sippican Elementary School, the Police Department, and over parking areas. Nelson reported that Lisa Sullivan from Green Communities said those projects are eligible but lower priority when compared to Green Communities’ interest in heat pumps, etc.

            Citing Green Communities’ focus on only residential solar projects, Francis suggested Nelson ask CVEC about installing solar arrays atop municipal buildings.

            Any new solar project on town land would put Marion over its net-metering allowance so, according to Nelson, the Cape and Vineyard Electric Cooperative (CVEC) is looking at options for the town to sell electricity. Ingerslev said that solar energy will be used to cover the transition from fossil fuels to electric.

            Saltonstall reported that he obtained data on fuel used by Town of Marion cars, trucks, and propane usage, and uploaded that information onto the Mass Energy Insight Program website. The information, said Saltonstall, is transferring into the annual report that he has been trying to complete against a deadline.

            Saltonstall said he asked and will at no additional cost this year receive assistance from the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) in preparing his submission of the Green Communities report. SRPEDD Senior Environmental Planner Danica Belknap will visit the Town House on Friday, October 29, to work with EMC representatives.

            The next meeting of the EMC is scheduled for Monday, November 22, at 5:00 pm.

Marion Energy Management Committee

By Mick Colageo