What is your recycling IQ?

            Rochester is about to engage in a summer school of sorts to bring those grades up in an effort to purify what it considers an earnest effort on the part of its residents to do things the right way.

            To that end, Marcia Kessler, a consultant for the town and its grant writer, reported during the April 30, remote-access, Board of Selectmen meeting on Rochester’s Recycling IQ Program.

            From June 5 to Sept 25, Rochester will be checking 250 resident recycling carts for A- and B-designated routes for a minimum of 500 checks. The town is looking for a level of contamination by inspecting only the top and first couple of inches in each bin.

            “Our focus is on the two big contaminants,” said Kessler, defining them as shopping bags and tanglers (ie. hoses, cords, and wires).

            The A route will begin on May 15 and the B route on May 22. The town will hang information tags to let people know that their cart has been selected for inspection. Those carts will receive three checks over the 18-week period that starts on June 5 and ends on September 25.

            The goal, said Kessler, is to achieve zero waste. Plastic bags contaminate the recyclables and can thereby disqualify an entire truckload. The tanglers, she said, literally bring the processing machines to a halt.

            The cost increases for Rochester when a contaminated load of recycling is rejected and redirected for shipment to the far end of Connecticut or upstate New York. Under state law, if a load is rejected it cannot go to the Southeastern Massachusetts Resource Recovery Facility (SEMASS) run by Covanta. It has to be scooped up into a truck and transported many miles.

            Rochester will allow three disqualified pieces before a bin is rejected. Any rejected bin will be tagged and turned sideways so ABC knows not to pick it up. 

            “We decided not to go zero tolerance because people make mistakes. Children put bottles in plastic bags,” said Kessler. “We don’t want to make people feel like we’re punishing them for trying to do a good job, but there are monetary fiscal imperatives… The goal is to try to reduce the contamination of our recycling.”

            The town will post notices of the program in the local press and on its own platforms.

            “It’s an environmental thing,” said Town Administrator Suzanne Szyndlar. “We’re just basically reducing our cost because all those costs get pushed over to the town.”

            Cart checkers will be coming from Fairhaven. Szyndlar said they are experienced personnel and will be wearing identification badges. 

            The first mailing with the information will go out to residents on Friday, May 8. It will include refrigerator magnets identifying acceptable recyclable items and those that are not… no plastic bags and no tanglers.

            Kessler recently learned that items with a recycling number are not necessarily recyclable. “It turns out those numbers are only used by the people at the plant… that was a shock to me,” she said.

            The Department of Environmental Protection cautions anyone hauling their bins to wash their hands afterward.

            Szyndlar has been impressed with Kessler’s work so far, calling her services “invaluable” in the writing of Fire and Police Department-related grants. “She’s worked out really well,” said Szyndlar, alluding to a grant that will supply the fire department with new masks and hoods and a large grant to support two new police officers.

            Rochester residents also have an opportunity to recycle their mattresses for free by dropping them off to a trailer. Kessler said that taking advantage now and correctly disposing of mattresses costs the town $30 to $40 per piece. The container will eventually become property of the town. 

            In her Town Administrator’s Report, Szyndlar incorrectly reported the town’s first COVID-19 death based on an inaccurate address she had received immediately prior to the meeting. Szyndlar would correct that information shortly after the meeting, emailing The Wanderer a clarification that the person who succumbed to coronavirus-related illness was not a Rochester resident. She did note during the meeting that the victim had been beset with many underlying conditions and prior hospitalizations.

            As of Thursday, there were 12 COVID-19 cases in Rochester, including six active cases and six who have recovered. Szyndlar noted that seven cases were related to health-care workers.

            Szyndlar reported that 20 Rochester seniors who qualified for and were approved to work for the maximum credit of $1,000 to be applied to their bills under the Senior Property Tax Workoff Program saw their progress stalled by the coronavirus-related shutdowns. At the request of Council on Aging Director Cheryl Randall-Mach, the Board of Selectmen approved full allowance for FY20, impacting those 20 seniors, most of whom were close to their 80 required hours.

            “That’s the least we can do for the seniors,” said Board of Selectmen Chairman Paul Ciaburri.

            The board also praised the work done by Building Commissioner Jim Buckles and administrative assistant Patti LaForest on the proposed fee schedule for electrical inspections.

            “I think they’ve done a wonderful job. I thought this work was exceptional,” said Select Board Vice Chairman Brad Morse. “It’s a bad time to talk about raising something, but this is proof on why we need to.”

            Selectman Woody Hartley recognized the amount of back-up work and professional assessment given by the Building Department.

            Ciaburri expressed concern at the colliding trends of the town’s direction toward burying wiring and the higher cost of inspections for underground projects. Town Counsel Blair Bailey explained that there is more work involved and, regardless of incentive, the Planning Board will likely require underground electric.

            “It’s an increase but not a windfall,” said Bailey. “A lot of these numbers we’re behind (neighboring towns) in. It’s not in any way a money-making scheme.”

            The new fee schedule, originally planned to go into effect this month, will become effective June 1.

            Ciaburri was to sit in with the Plymouth County Advisory Board on April 29 to discuss the $90 million that the Plymouth County Commissioners received.

            “The commissioners already said they will administer the money and not give it to the (state) government because the government has not guaranteed that Plymouth County would get any of the money,” Ciaburri said.

            Morse noted that other counties (i.e. Norfolk and Bristol) have turned the money over to the state. “I’m in favor of Plymouth County administering if they can do it right,” he said.

            Hartley said that, if the county administers the money, the state can say walk back its financial commitments to the counties. Ciaburri said that the state took over the prison but left the retirement with the county.

            Bailey advised the board to ask if the attorneys involved on the county’s behalf are on a retainer or a “not to exceed” compensation agreement. “I would hate if these attorneys got some kind of percentage or incentive,” he said.

            “Plymouth County is really tight with their money,” said Ciaburri. “I will ask the questions, but I don’t suspect that they will do something that is not exactly right.”

            In other business, the board made some corrections to term limits while approving the following committee appointments: Conservation Commission – 2023 term expiration for Daniel Gagne and Maggie Payne, 2022 for Chris Gerrior, and 2021 for Lena Bourque and Kevin Thompson.

            Three existing police officers, Sergeant Kevin Flynn and patrol officers Brendan Emberg and Alyson Rego, were approved for one-year terms.

            In a meeting held the prior hour, Sharon Cruz was appointed to another term on the Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School Committee.

            Morse suggested that the May 25 Memorial Day celebration be rescheduled for Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11.

            “I like that idea Brad. I think that’s a very good idea,” said Hartley. “We certainly won’t be doing what we’ve done in the past this year.”

            According to Hartley, Rochester Memorial School is no longer under consideration for a roof-anchored solar array.

            In light of the governor’s extension of the state shutdown through May 18, Szyndlar emphasized that all town hall employees are still working and remain available by phone and email. “Nothing has changed. We’re here to service the people,” she said.

            Simple recycling (clothing and shoes) has been back in operation since April 27. More information is available via info@simplerecycling.com.

Rochester Board of Selectmen

By Mick Colageo

            It was another long night of debate when the Mattapoisett Planning Board reopened the site-plan review application for the Bowman Road solar array proposed by Next Grid., aka Next Grid Bowman LLC. Board members attending the remote meeting were acting chairman Nathan Ketchel and board administrator Mary Crain, along with members Karen Field, Arlene Figardo, and Janice Robbins. Mattapoisett Town Counsel Jonathan Silverstein was also present. Chris King of Atlantic Design and attorney Joseph Pacella represented applicant Daniel Serber, also present in the virtual meeting room.

            Representing the abutter, the Mattapoisett Land Trust, were Michael Huguenin and Paul Osenkowski, the latter of whom said he would also be speaking as a private citizen. Abutter to the project present for the meeting was Becky Zora of Martha’s Way and longtime conservation advocate Brad Hathaway.

            Pacella began stating first and foremost that recent Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources emergency requirements did not apply to this project. Those changes as noted on the agency website stipulate that, if a solar project can establish that it meets all permitting requirements and has an agreement with a utility for service interconnection within six months of the statue’s April 26 publication date, the project would essentially meet Smart Energy standards.

            However, the document also states some exemptions would limit proposed land use for solar projects. Those lands are described as Priority Habitat, Core Habitat and/or Critical Natural Landscape. It goes on to say that lands deemed to contain such sensitive areas by 50 percent may not be used for solar projects.

            This point would generate much dialog as the evening advanced into night.

            Pacella said that this project was grandfathered, “…so it will be held to the prior standard.”

            Silverstein, when asked if the state’s emergency order applied to the project, responded, “The short answer is whether or not the project qualifies, that is not relevant to the Planning Board.” He said that the site-plan review was “separate and apart” from their responsibilities related to site-plan review.

            The discussion turned to site issues when King said that technical issues previously raised such as MSDS sheets for transformers were submitted, requirements for emergency hazardous substance containment addressed, and confirmation from the fire and police departments that the project met with their departmental oversight. Construction practices such as off-site staging of equipment and project materials and limitations to truck travel on Bowman Road were also discussed by King.

            Serber added to the conversation saying, “The biggest issue of concern is Bowman Road.” He said the only large equipment delivery to the site will be the transformer, but that police would be hired to manage traffic, and notice of the approximately three-hour process would be advanced to the residents in the area.

            Further discussions over potential oil spillage into sensitive wetlands and decommissioning cost estimates were brought up by Ketchel. Details of the mechanics associated with notification of a spill and emergency measures were given by King. On the issue of decommissioning cost estimates, Ketchel questioned what would be done to the site upon decommissioning such as plantings and associated costs. By the end of the evening, cost remained an open question with Serber agreeing to pay a peer review consultant to review Next Grid’s plans and decommissioning bond price. The area that would be impacted is approximately 4.5 acres, he said.

            Field asked whether the developer was going to be paying property taxes. Silverstein answered that he could accept a PILOT program as other solar developers have done, a lump-sum, yearly payment in lieu of real estate taxes.

            Pacella said those discussions have not taken place because of the land court case the applicant filed when he appealed the Zoning Board of Appeals decision not to grant a special permit for the project.

Subsequently, the town and the applicant agreed to have the project reviewed by the Planning Board under the site-plan process. If accepted and conditioned by the Planning Board, the court filing would be dropped, he had said during the April meeting.

            With no further questions from the board members, Ketchel invited Hathaway to speak. Hathaway asked how many trees would be cut down. Serber’s team could not give an exact number but said that both grasses and tree planting would be planned during the decommissioning process. Hathaway then commented on the over $1,000,000 that various town, private and state agencies have paid to develop a “greenway” between Angelica Point and Marion, saying “…this defeats the purposes.”

            Serber said that Next Grid would be giving approximately a quarter of an acre to the land trust for conservation, that the property his company now owned on Bowman Road had been for sale for years prior to their acquiring it, and that it would be returned to a treed parcel. During the April meeting Huguenin had been surprised to learn of the property gift since it had not been discussed with the land trust to his knowledge.

            Serber shared that at every public hearing for solar development the issue of real estate values had been raised and that he had been able to find only one independent study out of the University of Texas that found property values were not impacted by the proximity of a solar array.

            Zora spoke to her wish for a gate at the end of Next Grid access roadway off Bowman Road to discourage hunters and day-trippers from accessing her property situated more deeply in the wooded area. She also asked that portable toilets being used by the construction teams not be placed near her property. Serber agreed.

            Osenkowski spoke to the land trust’s efforts to acquire the property and the limitations imposed on them making purchase impossible. He spoke to the issue of harsh storms and hurricanes that would flood the area. He called the project a “despoiling” of the forest. With each utterance Osenkowski became more passionate, finally telling Serber, “For crying out loud, wake up. You have no right to do this, to come from California… go back to California put up your solar array there!” He pleaded, “I implore the Planning Board to protect the town.”

            Huguenin was the last to speak. He said that the land trust had consistently raised concerns about the site, calling the project a public utility. Now with the project receiving site-plan review he said, “We have a chance not to make a mistake.” He said that the recent emergency measures put in place by the DOER prevented the project from moving forward. He said the site was not suitable for the project and asked the Planning Board to deny review based on the state’s criteria.

            Crain later told The Wanderer that Silverstein had made it clear to the Planning Board that their review of the project was not encumbered by state regulations, that those were separate and should not be part of their decision-making process.

            Robbins agreed with Silverstein. “Our job under site-plan review is pretty limited. Personally, we might not like the use but we can’t reject it on use,” she said. Ketchel concurred with Robbins saying, “… it’s also not our job to play intermediary between the applicant and the state.”

            Pacella asked the board to close the public hearing and vote now, stating, “There’s no public welfare issue here.”

            Instead citing Governor Baker’s emergency orders that grant cities and towns extended review time before having to render a decision, up to 45 days, the site-plan review was continued until May 21 at 7:00 pm.

Mattapoisett Planning Board

By Marilou Newell

            A Monday, June 22, Town Meeting and Friday, June 26, election are not yet official in Marion, but details for both events took shape during the Board of Selectmen’s May 5, remote-access meeting.

            After several weeks in which it seemed an alternate-format Town Meeting would only address budgetary articles, Tuesday’s meeting produced consideration of certain other articles and, finally, the possibility that the entire Town Meeting might be held.

            Town Administrator Jay McGrail presented a scenario in which Sippican Elementary School would house 130 attendees and Tabor Academy’s fieldhouse another 70. All attendees would arrive wearing facemasks and line up standing 6 feet apart to be checked in by staff wearing masks and face shields. Then they would be seated 7 feet apart. The gymnasium, McGrail said, may seat couples together, increasing a safe capacity. In either scenario, live attendance accommodating 130-200 preregistered attendees would be vetted for participation. 

            The rest of the voters would watch via Zoom and be able to preregister with the town clerk for their own remote participation up until 6:00 pm for the 7:00 pm meeting. Remote attendees would be pre-vetted as residents of Marion.

            In each location of the in-person meeting, a viewing screen would operate on a closed-circuit system managed by ORCTV, and remote participants would be able to use a chat feature to ask questions.

            “I think we can pull it off,” said McGrail. “The biggest issue is the voting. What would make me comfortable about this scenario is as long as we have 50 (a quorum).”

            In its May 19 meeting, the board will determine what articles it wants to run with. Town Planner Gil Hilario said Marion can hold a May 19 determination of the warrant, giving the town the required two weeks.

            “The 19th (of May) is going to have to be our drop-dead date on articles,” said McGrail.

            Once different members began batting around which articles could be added, Selectman John Waterman asked, “What would it take to do the whole thing?”

            “If we’re not going to just do the monetary articles and start picking here and there, we either do 1-4 or the whole thing, that’s my opinion,” said Chairperson Randy Parker.

            At the very least, voters will be asked if they approve plans to leave the Marion-Rochester Health District, opt out of the Carver-Marion-Wareham transfer-station agreement and approve the town’s water/sewer plan and INI funding. Because some warrant items require public hearings, discussion expanded and Parker insisted that the town has to open up all public hearings.

            Town Clerk Lissa Magauran rolled out an election-day plan based on adjustments to a model being used in a western Massachusetts community.

            Marion will slightly shorten poll hours from the traditional 8:00 am to 8:00 pm and open the polls from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm. Some towns are going with minimum-allowed, four-hour window, but Magauran believes that could lead to potentially unsafe crowding of the polls. Citizens are encouraged to vote by mail.

            All precautions will be taken, including the hire of a younger group of poll workers and the distribution of kits in plastic bags with masks, gloves and pens. Voters are asked to bring their own, but the town plans to assemble 200 packets. If people refuse to wear a mask, McGrail said the Board of Health will need to give Chief of Police John Garcia the authority to impose fines.

            Polling stations will be at least 6 feet apart and will be sanitized in between each vote. Staff will wear face shields in addition to masks. The floor will be marked and the staff will hold a dress rehearsal to see how many booths the Recreation Center can accommodate.

            A mass mailing will solicit requests for absentee ballots.

            Marion’s Memorial Day parade has been canceled, but the town has planned a quiet celebration limited to four participants that will be aired after the fact on ORCTV. Along with a virtual celebration planned to air on ORCTV on Memorial Day, a brief event will feature the reading of the names of deceased Marion veterans, the laying of a reef and the playing of “Taps” by trumpet player Chris Berg.

            The time of the event is being withheld so as not to attract spectators. The ceremony will air later on ORCTV.

            “Our mission here is to honor the nation’s war dead but not draw a crowd,” said Andrew Bonney, who joined the meeting from Hanscom Air Force Base while on active duty with the National Guard.

            Citing the statistic of 1.7 percent of COVID-positive cases among ages 18 and younger, Waterman reasserted a position he took several weeks ago that towns need more autonomy and what might be the right safety practice for Boston, for instance, does not necessarily apply to Marion.

            “We shouldn’t be requiring everyone to self-isolate just to protect older people,” he said with an eye on relaxing practices after May 18.

            The Board of Selectmen will meet in joint session with the Board of Health on Tuesday, May 19.

Marion Board of Selectmen

By Mick Colageo