Elizabeth Taber Library

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Friday, October 8, at 4:00 pm: Pine Meadows Children’s Zoo Returns to the Elizabeth Taber Library! This summer, readers at the Elizabeth Taber Library, with help from Eastern Bank, raised over $500 dollars for Heifer International, an organization that provides working animals to communities in need around the world. The Pine Meadows Children’s petting zoo is returning to the Elizabeth Taber Library along with their animal friends to share how animals and people can work together.

            Friday, October 15, at 4:00 pm: Halloween Duck Hunt! Find one of the Halloween ducks hidden in and around the library and show off your new buddy in our Halloween photobooth. Find the Golden Ducky to win a Halloween Prize pack!

            September – October, Tuesdays and Fridays at 10:30 am (weather permitting): Fall Storytime! Children of all ages are invited to join us for outdoor Storytime in front of the library with our Children’s Librarian Ms. Heather. After storytime, try out some lawn games, fun for kids of all ages.

            Friday, October 29, 6:00 pm: Haunts, Haints, and Hollers: Spooky and Silly Stories for a Halloween Eve, for ages 8-11! Celebrated Storyteller Rona Leventhal shares fun and spooky Halloween stories on the steps of the Elizabeth Taber Library. Blankets and chairs encouraged.

            Friday, October 30, 6:30 pm: Into the Dark – Scary Stories, for teens and adults! Rona Leventhal returns to the ETL with tales to thrill and chill. This is an outdoor program. Blankets and chairs encouraged.

            For more information, visit us online at www.ElizabethTaberLibrary.org or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To speak to a librarian, call 508-748-1252.

Mustering up History

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            They are a small but mighty society of like-minded individuals with a laser focus on all things historic, especially if its anything to do with the Town of Rochester. And that passion to preserve the past and present it to future generations was on full display when the Rochester Historical Society opened its second exhibit, “Treasures from the Museum,” on October 2.

            Using all the available space and interesting features the former church property holds, the society opened the front doors and surrounding grounds to the public for a fun and informative peek into the past. They even brought out the big guns –well, muskets really – with members of the Wareham 1st Company of Plymouth 4th Regiment of the Continental Army reenactment soldiers, giving a demonstration and salute to departed servicemen.

            The militia group headed by Rochester Historical Society Chairman Malcom Phinney performed an honor salute of three rounds fired over the Woodside Cemetery.

            The cemetery, which hugs the church building on two sides, is the final resting place for 16 former military men who have lain in that hallowed ground for decades, nay centuries. Society members have striven over the years to identify all the souls buried in the cemetery. Despite their best efforts and ongoing research, some elusive details remain lost in time.

            Of the graves of former military men that have been located, much information has been gathered, but much remains to be found. So far, the society has identified the following: Frederick Soule, Civil War, Navy, 1861-1865, died 1929; Laurice Briggs, Civil War, GAR post 208, died 1866 at 21 years of age; Nehemiah Davis, Civil War, 1834-1922; David Cairns, USMC, WW1, 1898-1969; Charles Smith, Co. C 58th Massachusetts Infantry Civil War (all dates unknown); John Maxim, Co C 18th Massachusetts Infantry (all dates unknown); Leander Cobb, Co. K 42nd Massachusetts Infantry Civil War (all dates unknown); William Allen, GAR Post 208 (all dates unknown); Benjamin Gurney, Civil War (all dates unknown); John Gault, War of 1812, died in 1860 at age 75; John Galt, Civil War, 1861-1865, 1840-1889; Gardner Hathaway, Co E 32rd Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, died 1889; Sullivan Bumpus, Co A 4th Regiment R.I. volunteers, killed at the battle of Antietem; Frank Bumpus and Benjamin Bumpus (all dates and branch of service unknown); Josiah Morse, War of 1812, 1794-1868; and Luther Morse, Battle of Gettysburg, born in 1842 and died July 18, 1863, 13 days after the battle had ended.

            Phinney explained the difference between a militia and the Minutemen troops. He said, “The Minutemen were like the Green Berets.” They were picked out from militias, received extra training, were roughly 25 years of age, wore specific uniforms, and were expected to defend and protect their designated locations, mustering quickly and expertly in minutes. But the Minutemen lacked a central command making it difficult to fight the British. They would eventually become part of a formal army.

            The exhibit is a collection of materials, some directly related to military action and others simply interesting bits and pieces of a long-ago time in history being kept alive, a legacy of work and service.

            The museum is only open from June through the end of August on Sundays 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm. To visit September – May, call 508-295-8908 for an appointment.

By Marilou Newell

Zuker Gets Zoning Recommendation

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            The Marion Planning Board moved on from two major matters during its October 4 Zoom meeting, voting unanimously to recommend a zoning reclassification that will make possible a 48-unit, multi-family housing complex on Route 6 and finding peaceful closure to what had been a contentious exchange with Wings Cove-area abutters to the controversial pier construction that the board approved at 122 Register Road back in March.

            Even if voters decide at the October 19 Special Town Meeting to approve the board’s recommendation that the land at 78 Wareham Road be reclassified as Residence E for multi-family housing, Matthew Zuker’s proposed development will still come back before the Planning Board for scrutiny and major site plan review before a special permit is granted.

            Zuker, the property owner and developer of the 30 acres of land located along the Weweantic River, presented a few different options, including 36 detached, single-family homes and 12 townhouse-style homes.

            While Monday’s meeting was not held to vet the project itself, many project-related questions arose due to the ramifications of Residence E zoning.

            Referencing Dr. Ed Hoffer’s report in February 2020 that surveyed residents regarding housing choices, Zuker told the Planning Board, “We didn’t want to make ‘McMansions.’” He talked about the town’s character, Marion’s Master Plan, village-style development, clustered neighborhoods, and the needs of residents age 55 and over.

            “We think we accomplished that here by our design,” he said, alluding to the fiscal benefit that the town would realize with 48 new sewer users.

            “Mr. Zuker has been front and center working with us over the last six months,” said Town Administrator Jay McGrail, calling the plan “a good, smart-growth development project for the town.”

            To validate his intentions not to exploit the rezoning but use it to give Marion a market-rate development geared toward senior citizens looking to downsize, Zuker has signed a deed restriction limiting the number of units to 48, according to his attorney, Patricia McArdle, who had previously advocated for a zoning change when Henry DeJesus owned the property.

            Zuker said he would like to start the units at $600,000, acknowledging member Chris Collings’ anticipation that the waterfront units would be priced around $800,000. “The ones on the water would subsidize the others,” said Zuker, characterizing Collings’ suggestion as “fair.”

            Collings informed Zuker that one of the region’s more popular fishing spots for striped bass is right in front of the property.

            Abutter Lori Kahler, 28 Wareham Road, is concerned with trespassers to her property who go there to fish and admitted being unnerved one morning by the presence of a stranger in her back yard.

            Kahler told the board she had purchased her property based on the current zoning and asked how a solar array was not approved but a 48-unit residential development is “going to be better.”

            Board member Norm Hills told Kahler that, while Marion has a bylaw for solar arrays that prohibits gross cutting of trees, the town does not have the same type of controls over any other zoning area.

            Hearing Kahler’s concerns, Zuker suggested they continue a dialogue offline. She was amenable.

            Zuker’s proposed development is adjacent to a much larger 40B affordable-housing development planned by Ken Steen. Board member Alanna Nelson suggested it would be preferable if residents of one development are able to visit with residents of the other without necessarily using Route 6. Member Chris Collings voiced approval of Nelson’s idea and suggested more than one egress when the applicant returns to present the project itself to the board.

            “I’m quite impressed with the plan and the presentation. It fits exactly with the survey Dr. Hoffer performed and also the Master Plan,” said Planning Board member Eileen Marum, whose question about some sort of community activity center was satisfied by McArdle’s suggestion of pickleball courts.

            Planning Board Chair Will Saltonstall asked Zuker about screening, especially as it applies to Steen’s neighboring development. He also asked Zuker’s plan to either open to or screen Route 6. Zuker said his inclination is to shield the view but added potential Route 6 improvements could convince him otherwise.

            Saltonstall recused himself for professional reasons from the planned discussion with abutters to the controversial pier project at 122 Register Road, so Marum ran the rest of the meeting in his absence.

            Given time to organize messages, questions, and responses on both sides, Monday’s meeting was substantially more cordial and more organized than the last time the stakeholders collided.

            Monday night’s meeting was assured more control after the Planning Board deployed Administrative Assistant Donna Hemphill to manage the signaling of requests to speak, but what set a tone of order was Town Counsel Jon Witten’s explanation of the limits of the Planning Board’s power.

            After Witten explained that state law essentially prohibits the Planning Board from reopening a decided case after the 20-day appeal period, he answered several questions, including one from abutter Suzanne Murphy that suggested information provided by the applicant, and found to be inconsistent, should negate the board’s decision.

            “The statutory period in Massachusetts is firm. The only exceptions to this would be fraud or some undue inducement or criminal activity,” said Witten, noting that the 20-day period allows parties to move on. “I know that’s cold comfort. The remedy thus becomes unavailable.”

            Acting as the spokesperson for the Friends of Wings Cove, Chris Madden requested that the special permit for a 192-foot pier with a 10-foot by 2-foot float be open for amendment.

            The fact that the length has been voluntarily shortened to 162 feet does not authorize the Planning Board to reopen the case. “If the applicant wants to reduce that length without coming to us, he can do that,” said board member Norm Hills.

            Abutter Ryan Burke said that Harbormaster Isaac Perry “did some really good work,” adding, “The initial 30-foot reduction was a step in the right direction.”

            Madden said that another rock has been discovered that is not on Perry’s survey of Wings Cove and indicated that collaborative work in ongoing as boaters seek a solution for safe passage.

            Marum concluded the discussion by encouraging abutters to reach out to the state Department of Environmental Protection “because the applicant has not received his Chapter 91 permit or license to work in the water right now. Contact the Mass. DEP.”

            In other business, the Planning Board voted to approve an ANR application filed by the Marion Lands Trust, LLC, 369 Wareham Street, represented by Dave Davignon of Schneider, Davignon, & Leone, Inc.

            The town received notice that developer Sherman Briggs and partner Hamblin Homes, Inc. requested a continuance to the board’s next meeting on Monday, October 18, and also asked to extend the application to November 5. Briggs is proposing a 28-unit, townhouse-style residential development at Spring and Mill Streets.

            Of the three cases in which the Zoning Board of Appeals sought comment from the Planning Board, only the application of Jay Flanagan for a covered entry to allow an extension of a non-conforming garage at 26 West Avenue was addressed. “If they’re going to put a second floor on the garage, it should be non-habitable,” said Hills.

            The next meeting of the Marion Planning Board is scheduled for Monday, October 18, at 7:00 pm.

Marion Planning Board

By Mick Colageo

Marion Historical Commission

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The Marion Historical Commission is pleased to announce that Ms. Lynn Smiledge has been selected to complete Phase II of updating the Marion Village Historic Survey. Work will begin this month to expand and update the Inventory of Historic Assets, initially completed in 1998, to make it more accessible, easier to use, and fully compliant with present-day state standards.

            The project is funded by a Survey & Planning Grant received last spring from the Massachusetts Historical Commission, (funded by the US Department of the Interior, National Park Service), with the local match to be funded by Community Preservation funds.

            This work will continue our 2020 MHC grant efforts to update and expand the survey. Smiledge has done similar survey work in Wellfleet, Methuen, and Boston. She has also served on local preservation commissions in Andover and Boston where she is currently chair of the Boston Landmarks Commission.

            The existing survey forms for the remainder of Marion Village, the Water Street area, the George Bonham Nye area (Converse and Pleasant Streets) and the southerly sections of the village will be updated and expanded. This information can then serve as the basis for determining if properties or areas are eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, the nation’s primary tool for recognition of resources of historic and architectural significance. Listing in the National Register provides recognition but no constraints upon an individual property owners’ rights.

            The project will be carried out over the next nine months, with completion expected by summer of 2022. The Marion Historical Commission is delighted that this project will soon be underway. The results will benefit individual property owners interested in the history of their homes, as well as being a useful planning tool available to local boards to ensure development decisions are in keeping with the Town’s goals for preservation of historic resources. Our thanks to the Community Preservation Committee for helping to fund this project.

Friends of the Marion Council on Aging

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The Annual Meeting of The Friends of the Marion Council on Aging (FMCOA) will be held on Thursday, October 21, at 5:00 pm at the Benjamin D. Cushing Community Center, Route 6, Marion. We will meet in-person with masks required. The meeting is open to the public.

            Architect Laura Fitch will be our guest speaker. Fitch’s focus on shared and small housing should be of interest to Marion residents. Fitch is a founding principal of Fitch Architecture & Community Design in Amherst, Massachusetts, and is a 27-year resident of Pioneer Valley Cohousing. Fitch specializes in cohousing and smart growth communities. She has worked on programming, schematic design, and/or full architectural services on over thirty 30 cohousing communities across North America for which the firm has received numerous awards.

            In 2006, Fitch was given the Boston Architectural College’s “Distinguished Alumni Award,” which states, “Because of you, Laura, many people have found more neighborly and sustainable ways to live. Through your work, our world is a better place.”

            While the pandemic presented and continues to present challenges for all, we can be proud of the FMCOA’s accomplishments over the past year – most recently, the completion of the ADA compliant 1/8-mile hardscape walking path and a well-attended and enthusiastically supported Pavilion fundraiser hosted by Laura and Jamie Shachoy at their waterfront property, Efforts continue to recruit volunteers to support the COA staff’s efforts to provide a variety of activities for Marion seniors, revise the FMCOA’s by-laws, work toward the Town earning designation as an AARP Age Friendly Community, update and redesign the website, and more! We look forward to your joining us on Thursday, October 21, at 5:00 pm at the Benjamin D. Cushing Community Center, Route 6, Marion.

Fall Free Family Fun Festival

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The Mattapoisett Lions Club presents its annual Fall Free Family Fun Festival! Saturday, October 16, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Shipyard Park, Mattapoisett! Hayrides, goody bags, pin the nose on the pumpkin, pumpkin bowling, corn hole, coloring station, refreshments, Halloween music, and more! Kids may select one pumpkin from the Pumpkin Patch to take home! Wear your (non-scary) costumes! Parents can learn about the Mattapoisett Lions Club and all we do for the local community and beyond! Stop by the membership table while at the festival for more information. Rain date will be October 23, same time and location. Snacks, goody bags, and pumpkins while they last.

            No registration or charge! Donations accepted at the event to help fund Mass. Lions Eye Research, diabetes awareness, and local residents in need.

            For more information, visit us on Facebook at @MattapoisettLionsClub, or visit our website at www.mattapoisettlionsclub.org.

Can Seaweed Help Save the Planet?

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            The Marion Natural History Museum’s focus on timely science and matters pertaining to the natural world was once again brought to the fore when the museum hosted Scott Lindell of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on September 30. Lindell is a researcher whose primary interests are in finding ways to make the oceans a viable source for foods and fuel for the masses.

            Lindell presented significant evidence of the importance of exploring new food sources for both animals and humans as pressure from rising CO2 levels are now an everyday reality.

            A cornerstone of the researcher’s talk was just how the production and consumption of cattle and hogs negatively impact Earth’s delicate balance. At the very top of the list are beef cattle and hogs, reigning supreme in the need and use of land, fresh water, and feed. And then there are the gas emissions that add to the complexity of the problem. Livestock alone release a whooping 7.1 gigatons of CO2, or 15-percent of all animal emissions into the atmosphere annually.

            Seaweed produces none.

            From that platform, Lindell went on to discuss research activities he and others are exploring in an effort to come up with seaweed production and marketing strategies that are not only viable, but sustainable.

            The importance of this work also touched on the need to find new food source as human populations continue to grow, outstripping standard farming and food production methods. Lindell said projections now stand at well over 10 billion people living on Earth by 2050, roughly 3 billion more than today’s estimated population. The question is: How will the planet support the people?

            The production of seaweeds for foods is currently very small, Lindell pointed out, with U.S. consumption negligible versus Asian nations that consume 90-percent of seaweeds as a traditional food source. Marketing seaweed as food will be part of the answer, he said.

            Lindell shared that the U.S. government is pumping dollars into finding and funding seaweed farming techniques that can help with food demands from hungry animals of the four and two-legged varieties. Lindell said that presently the U.S. Department of Energy is supporting 18 projects with $50 million invested thus far. The projection for seaweed production for 2021 was 1 million pounds, not nearly enough for full-scale usage by man and beast.

            Lindell discussed some of the methods currently used to propagate seaweed beds as well as explaining the lifecycle of seaweeds.

            Each strand of kelp is called a “blade,” which can reach many tens of feet in length. The plant itself is a rather amazing life form, requiring both male and female spores (which start life as unisex cells) in order to produce the blades. These cells are called “gametophyte.” Once these have combined to create juvenile “sporophyte,” they are sprayed onto seed strings wound around cylinders and placed into the ocean farms.

            Lindell said the process of finding the best spores for propagation evolves over several growing seasons. The entire process has 10 steps, as he noted. Those are: spawn spores from blades, separate individual male and female spores, vegetatively culture, cross-select best males and females, apply baby blades to farm, plant, maintain farm from November to May, harvest and evaluate cross breeds, conduct genetic analyses, and select spores for the next generation.

            It is through this continuance crossbreeding process that the best kelp plants are produced.

            Another aspect of Lindell’s research is the concept of “sinking seaweed to capture or sequester CO2.” Here’s how that works. After the kelp spores are cultivated and sprayed onto the strings, those strings are eventually attached to ropes that are sunk to as much as 1,000 meters deep. They decay over time, not returning to the surface where they could rejoin the carbon cycle.

            There are questions as to the viability of sequestering carbon through kelp on a scale large enough to make an impact, but as Heather Smith of Sierra Magazine wrote in her June 20, 2021 article, “Seaweed farming has promise. In addition to sequestering carbon, it can provide habitat for fish and mitigate local effects of ocean acidification …[yet] the most effective way to sequester carbon is to not release it in the first place.”

            One question Lindell received from the audience was, what can we as individuals do to help mitigate the problem with CO2 and promote more aquaculture activities? Lindell responded that one of the biggest hurdles to farming at sea is going through a permitting process that can be cumbersome, expensive, and time-consuming. He suggested talking to and working with local licensing agencies, making them aware of the need to explore this type of food production and to find new ways to get licensing approved.

            Lindell said that in Maine and other commercial fishing areas, kelp farming can help support working waterfronts by creating jobs and sustaining boat owners when and where fish stocks may be depleting. He also suggested that anyone who hasn’t yet eaten a recipe that contains seaweed should try it. It might not be an acquired taste after all.

            To learn more about this and other research taking place at Woods Hole Oceanography Institution, visit www.whoi.edu. For more information on upcoming presentations offered by the Marion Natural History Museum, visit www.marionmuseum.org.

By Marilou Newell

Planning Board Toggles Between Meetings

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            Mattapoisett’s Planning Board has been busy, not only with high-profile construction projects, but also with securing a new Planning Board administrator/planner and putting the finishing touches on a new solar bylaw.

            The September 30 meeting of the board found its members transitioning into executive session to interview two candidates vying for the vacant part-time position in the Planning office. It is unknown which of the two candidates, one from Worcester and the other from Marion, was preferred by the Planning Board or if the board reached a conclusion. The next step would be for the Select Board to interview the candidate(s).

            The board also met to discuss the final drafting of a new solar bylaw. Member Janice Robbins has taken the lead on drafting the sometimes very technical language required in a bylaw governing commercial solar arrays. Robbins worked extensively over many months with an outside consultant and with the town’s legal counsel to ensure the verbiage meets regulations at the state and federal levels while also satisfying local considerations.

            Time is of the essence given that the board proposes to have the bylaw added to the Fall Special Town Meeting Warrant. Town meeting is scheduled for November 8.

            On October 1, a special Planning Board meeting was held to hammer out any remaining issues or concerns related to the bylaw, and to ascertain if other board members were in agreement with the draft.

            Robbins said that counsel had made edits to the document but nothing that changed the “substance” of the bylaw. The bylaw will also stipulate that the Planning Board will be the final local authority over such construction projects.

            With the advancement in solar array designs, the board discussed how to regulate canopy arrays. The members wondered if they could enforce site plan review if a canopy was proposed over an existing parking lot, for instance. Robbins pointed out that the new bylaw will prohibit arrays in undeveloped areas. The board ultimately thought that a canopy array would require site plan review. Definitions will be added that describe large and medium-sized arrays, and both will require site plan review.

            The board also tackled language for specific situations such as temporary suspension of operation and grandfathering. On that last point, Robbins said that most if not all of the proposed area planned for solar operation off Randall Lane would be prohibited by the new bylaw. But earlier discussions with the developer and the board on this matter allowed the project to move through the permitting process. Robbins said, “In all fairness to the applicants,” given the amount of time and money that has been spent, allowing them to move forward should be granted. Other board members agreed.

            A public hearing on the bylaw will be set for Monday, October 18, at 7:00 pm.

            The October 4 regular meeting of the board found the membership deep into the Randall Lane solar project when engineering consultant Beals and Thomas, Inc., representing applicants Randall Lane, LLC, once again came before the board. While many outstanding points have been addressed, several still remained, causing the applicant to request an extension until December 7 and a continuance until October 18.

            The matters pending include clarification that the town’s consultant, BETA Engineering, has weighed in on all matters related to the project – a checklist is needed; whether all matters related to the new flood plain bylaw have been addressed; acceptance of the plan by Mass Wildlife Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program; and whether the approval of an ANR for a four-lot subdivision triggers the requirement that Randall Lane be made compliant to subdivision roadway standards.

            Robbins insisted that the road is not substantial enough for the proposal before the board or for any future use at the end of the multi-decade lease between the landowners and the solar provider. It was also discovered that a written sign-off by the Fire Department was not in hand, only verbal approval.

            Robbins also asked the Beals and Thomas team to ask the applicant to help the Planning Board with final review of the voluminous filing to further ensure all matters have been thoroughly documented by enlisting a consultant for that task. The applicant’s consultant agreed to pursue it with their clients.

            In other matters, the release of a single lot and covenant for Snowfield Estates was continued until October 18, as was site plan final review and release of surety agreements for Eldridge Estates.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board is scheduled for Monday, October 18, at 7:00 pm.

Mattapoisett Planning Board

By Marilou Newell

Marine Fee Increases Unanimously Approved

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            It only took 45 minutes for the pros and cons of proposed increases to marine fees vetted in an October 5 public hearing to be aired, debated, and reviewed, but when all was said and done, the 20-percent average increases to the boating community received unanimous approval from the Mattapoisett Select Board.

            Coming forward to outline the increases and the rational for them was Harbormaster Jamie McIntosh. “New services have been added, some infrastructure has been upgraded, but we can’t continue on at this pace without a rate increase of about 20-percent,” said McIntosh, noting that in some cases fees remain unchanged in line with no new service requirements. “We are just below average of other towns along Buzzards Bay.”

            The fees are as follows after the increases: Mooring with boat and boat sticker $75 with resident per-foot rate $2.50 and non-resident rate $6; small boat fee in kayak/canoe rack $50; inner harbor mooring fee $120; outer harbor mooring fee $120; commercial mooring $160; commercial slip $160; commercial boat $85; swim float $60; wharf space fee $60 per foot; skiff space fee $180; skiff sticker $60; dinghy dock space $120; dinghy sticker $60; pig pile space $20; replacement sticker $10. Seniors over the age of 65: mooring with boat sticker fee $75; resident $1.25 per foot; skiff fee space $90; skiff sticker $30; replacement sticker $10.

            Select Board Chairman Jordan Collyer said that the requested increases are part of a staged three-part fee increase planned to unfold over about seven years. “We did it this way to avoid a big hit,” he said, noting that the last increase was in 2017 and that this rate increase is the second incremental stage of the bigger plan. “We need retained earnings to help with upkeep of infrastructure.”

            Select Board member Jodi Bauer questioned the increase, saying, “Some of these rates are more than 20-percent, they’re 25-percent.” Member Tyler Macallister said, “The average is 20-percent.”

            Collyer said that the waterfront is a true enterprise fund with revenue generated from fees going directly into services used by the boating community. Other areas such as the parking and wharves are deemed assets used by everyone, therefore not paid for from the Waterfront Enterprise Fund. Bauer asked when the next rate increase would be scheduled. Collyer responded in about five years and restated that property taxes do not support the Waterfront Enterprise Fund.

            But the numbers didn’t add up for Capital Planning Chairman Chuck McCullough.

            McCullough started by pointing out that in 2015, the Harbormaster Department budget was $118,000; in 2018 it was $187,000, and in 2022, $266,000, a trend that would soon find the department in the million-dollar category, he projected, over the next 10 years.

            What McCullough asked for was two-fold: first, a willingness on the part of the board to table its vote to a later day so that, secondly, a review of the department’s goals and long-range planning could be undertaken. While saying on the one hand that he wasn’t questioning where the department is today, McCullough pointed to a need to understand where the department is headed, especially in terms of big-ticket improvements.

            Collyer said that, given the increased responsibilities the department has and will be taking on such as a restructuring of the shellfish program, a program McIntosh has experience in managing, an increase was warranted. “In 2015 we were grossly deficient in services,” said Collyer.

            Chairman of the Marine Advisory Board Carlos DeSousa said, “We are in the middle of a five-year improvement plan. We’ve re-grid the mooring field and hired a full-time harbormaster, we have a new rescue boat and pump-out boat – we need to keep going. We’ve got all the pieces in place to move forward.” DeSousa said that the Marine Advisory Board had unanimously approved the increases.

            Macallister added that McIntosh works alone through the winter months performing maintenance projects that would otherwise be outsourced at additional costs.

            Public comment was limited, but resident Andrew Stackpole said he was concerned about “growing the department without a strategic plan.”

            With no other comments forwarded, the public hearing was closed. Collyer asked for a motion to accept the fee increases; it was unanimously approved.

            Before going into executive session, Collyer said, “To Chuck’s point,” then, directing his comments to MacIntosh, “let’s do a refresh on plans; let’s get a three-year rolling plan with key areas to ensure we aren’t missing anything.”

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board is scheduled for Tuesday, October 12, at 6:30 pm.

Mattapoisett Select Board

By Marilou Newell

Tri-County Symphonic Band Announces 60th Season Opening

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            The Tri-County Symphonic Band, under the direction of Philip Sanborn, will open its 60th season with a concert on Sunday, October 24, at 3:00 pm in the Gilbert D. Bristol Auditorium at the Old Rochester Regional High School in Mattapoisett. A program featuring all women composers paired with historic women of the South Coast and profiled by seven local women entitled, “Blazing the Trail: Women Lighting the Way,” will be the first offering of the concert season. Pattie Marshall will be the featured clarinet soloist.

            Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at the Symphony Music shop in North Dartmouth and online at BrownPaperTickets.com. Please visit tricountysymphonicband.org for more detailed information.