Just when Fred Underhill felt as though Rochester’s Water Commission was being left out of an important water-related decision, Rochester Board of Selectmen member Woody Hartley assured him that the opposite was the case. “I was hoping you would open this as a meeting and vote on this as Water Commissioners,” said Hartley.

            The exchange came deep in the February 1 meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen, but both bodies eventually voted in favor of increasing the water allocation for Ken Steen’s 40R development at the junction of Route 28 and County Road to 47,500 gallons per day.

            The decision did not come easily for the Water Commission, which had just approved an increase from 45,000 to 46,000. Steen had requested 50,000 on that occasion and 47,500 on this occasion, the latter request to meet a threshold needed to secure financing.

            Water Commissioner Michael Conway asked for the basis for the request to 47,500 and was not satisfied with a bank’s requirements as a valid reason. “Until we nail down as to what the reason is he really needs this water, I’d like to put this on hold,” he said.

            Town Administrator Suzanne Szyndlar explained that, when seeking financing, Steen’s approval depended on having sufficient utilities in place for the full range of his development, including the seven commercial sites. The bulk of the usage is based on 208 apartment units and community facilities.

            “We all understand we want this project to go ahead,” said Hartley. “We have the water. [Steen] told us in writing how much they need. Are we really going to hold up this project for the 1,500 gallons they need?”

            Town Counsel Blair Bailey supported Hartley’s position in that the lending bank can legitimately request approved utility connections in proportion to the development’s size.

            Selectman Brad Morse pointed out that, with the board’s approval, Rochester would still be under its 51,000 gallon-per-day allotment from the Town of Wareham and made a motion that the Board of Selectmen approve Steen’s 47,500 gallon-per-day request. Morse noted that the Board of Selectmen needed to approve it in order for the Planning Board to render a final decision to approve the project.

            At the same time, it was deliberated whether Rochester should take up Wareham on its standing invitation to increase its overall allotment per the arrangement between the towns. Hartley pushed for a 20,000 gallon-per-day increase to provide Rochester a cushion. Morse agreed but said he first wishes to discuss the matter with Wareham’s water officials because there is an interim superintendent at present.

            Rochester Water Commissioner Rick Charon saw merit in both actions— for Rochester and Steen— and did not hesitate to make a motion that the Water Commissioners approve a 47,500 gallons-per-day allocation for Steen’s development. Conway was still reluctant but ultimately agreed that the project should not be stalled over 1,500 gallons of water and seconded Charon’s motion. Underhill was satisfied, saying, “This (vote) eliminates confusion if Wareham has two different amounts from elected boards in Rochester.”

            With that, the Water Commissioners left the meeting, and the Board of Selectmen took its own vote to approve Steen’s request for 47,500 gallons per day.

            In her Town Administrator’s Report, Szyndlar told the selectmen that their budget packets were ready to pick up and that most of the budgets had come in except the Old Rochester Regional School District and the Board of Assessors’ budgets. Szyndlar said she would go over the budget with the Finance Committee.

            Szyndlar said the governor’s proposals are expected to result in a 1.37-percent increase overall, but it is still early in the budget process. “It’s going to be a tight year,” she said. With Proposition 2 1/2 and estimated local receipts, she said, “There’s not going to be a lot of wiggle room there.”

            The selectmen approved Szyndlar’s recommendation of a 1:00 pm Friday, March 5, deadline to submit articles for the Annual Town Meeting Warrant.

            Marion’s Benson Brook Transfer Station is now open to Rochester residents on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.

            Szyndlar received ORCTV’s contract draft and sent it to Bailey and will send it to the selectmen.

            Plymouth County Commissioner Sandra Wright delivered Rochester’s second CARES Act reimbursement check in the amount of $18,765, which goes straight to the Old Colony Regional School District as Rochester’s share for Old Colony’s reimbursement funds related to COVID-19.

            Morse and Szyndlar attended the Veteran’s Council on January 28 and learned that Veterans Agent Barry Denham plans to retire in May.

            Chairman Paul Ciaburri reported attending a Zoom meeting with Health Director Karen Walega and Health Nurse Connie Dolan, enabling Rochester to function as a dispensing center for a COVID-19 vaccine should it become available. Ciaburri said there is no solid direction as of yet. “They’re talking about a mass inoculation center in New Bedford,” he said, noting a “lot of moving parts.” Szyndlar relayed that Walega said every town could get 100 vaccines per week, but the vaccines are fragile in travel, and it remains a better option to seek a vaccination through your local pharmacy or at an official government distribution site.

            In other business, the selectmen voted to approve and sign the new three-year contract for Chief of Police Robert Small effective July 1, 2021. “I want to thank the [Board of Selectmen] and Suzanne for making it quick and painless. It’s nice to have it go so smoothly,” said Small, who has been Rochester’s police chief since September 15, 2018. Bailey said there had been meetings with Small and Szyndlar to discuss the chief’s goals and achievement timetable, and that the information would be added to his performance review and evaluation.

            The selectmen voted to accept a SEMASS PILOT payment for December 2020 in the amount of $364,913. They also approved ORR Schools Facilities Manager Gene Jones’ declaration of surplus in the case of a walk-in cooler freezer that can now be sold as surplus goods, and they voted to appoint Steven Harding, a lifelong Rochester resident and part-time farmer, to the town’s Agricultural Commission.

            Szyndlar reported 18 complaints were filed with Verizon, three relating to equipment and 15 service interruptions. “Everything was resolved within a short period of time,” she said.

            Hartley attended three workshops and came away particularly impressed by the potential for grant funding of public safety projects through SRPEDD. He plans to talk soon with Planning Board Chairman Arnie Johnson about Rochester’s Master Plan. He also was happy to note that the Agricultural Commission now has six members.

            Morse reminded veterans to reach out to the Veteran’s Council, saying, “They’re really doing great things.”

            The next meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen is scheduled for Monday, February 15, at 6:00 pm.

Rochester Board of Selectmen

By Mick Colageo

            Marion Finance Director Judy Mooney and Town Administrator Jay McGrail gave the Board of Selectmen an overview of the town’s budget for Fiscal Year 2022 during the February 2 selectmen’s meeting via Zoom.

            McGrail said he asked the department heads in December to present level-services budgets with additional requests made separately and reported that no requests were made for additional staff. McGrail said Marion is starting to see the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on revenues for FY21 and referenced recent furloughs at the Senior Center.

            Projected growth for FY22 is 3.55 percent, and the total town increase without schools is 2.3 percent, leaving McGrail confident that each department has done a solid job responding to the request.

            Marion has draft numbers from ORR Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson, but those figures will not be ratified until mid-March. Given Marion’s constraints, McGrail and Mooney met with the ORR administration, and McGrail said he hopes to see a new number from them.

            Estimated total General Fund revenues for FY22 are projected to be $25,474,945, up from $24,772,528 in FY21. Marion’s FY22 level services budget is currently set at $25,617,604.

            During a 4:15 pm appointment, Paul Naiman of the Capital Improvements Planning Committee summarized the CIPC’s methodology and made some observations as a prelude to McGrail and Mooney’s presentation of Marion’s FY22 Capital Budget.

            The CIPC, explained Naiman, assists Marion’s departments in developing capital plans and 10-year projected capital plans. Items that qualify for consideration are those having five years or more of impact with a cost of at least $10,000. “We also try to visit town sites and see how money is being spent,” he said, referencing visits this year to the Town House and a meeting with the Old Rochester Regional School District’s new administration. “A lot came out of it, and we hope to do that again…. I hope this will prevent the track rehabilitation project getting approved by just our town and not even appearing on other towns’ warrants.”

            The CIPC typically meets with department heads in the fall to collect information, and its members rate a department’s projects on a 1-10 scale by considering several factors: need, public safety, maintenance cost, funding source, its effect on the tax rate or fees, and its useful life span. The CIPC creates and averages scores and establishes a ranking of items to share with those departments, the Finance Committee, and the Board of Selectmen.

            Marion’s share of ORR’s outdoor track project is $105,000 and is among seven school-related projects on the CIPC’s list. Four are projects related to Sippican School, and two are ORR. There are also five DPW projects, bringing Marion’s total capital projects for FY22 to $1,4 million. The next steps will include a review by Mooney, McGrail, FinCom, and the selectmen, and the process lands some items on the warrant for Town Meeting.

            Mooney and Selectman John Waterman agreed that it would take a year to assess the financial impact of the town running the Benson Brook transfer station. “We’re not looking to make money; we’re looking to break even. But in a year, the cost could go up if we need it to cover costs,” said Waterman. Marion has provided 1,000 stickers to Rochester, most of which McGrail expects will be purchased.

            A negative trend exists in public school enrollment that began before the COVID-19 pandemic.

            ORR enrollment has dropped 50 students for all three towns (154 total), and Sippican School is down 41 students from last year, but Mooney said Marion saw 38 fewer students enrolled in public schools for the two academic years prior. “We are concerned about it; it’s not just this one year,” she said. In the two prior school years, Sippican enrollment decreased by eight and 13 students.

            “We need to form a committee to look at enrollments because schools are a fixed cost. It may be one-offs for this year, but it got my attention,” said Waterman.

            Water Enterprise expenses will go down a small amount, but sewer is increasing. Mooney said that the town is looking to subsidize the Sewer Enterprise increase with free cash.

            McGrail reported no new debt.

            In his Town Administrator’s Report, McGrail issued a Friday, February 12, deadline to submit articles for the 2021 Annual Town Meeting warrant.

            McGrail was pleased to report that Marion was allocated 100 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and will distribute to Phase 2 citizens ages 85 and over. “We started at age 101 and worked our way backward. We offered the shot to every Marion resident at age 85 plus,” he said. The town called every eligible citizen using a census data list and assisted in the sign-up process as was necessary. Board of Health member Dot Brown made many of the calls herself, working through the weekend long.

            “When we look back at this whole episode a number of years from now, it’ll be some of the most important work we’ve ever done,” said McGrail, crediting respective Police and Fire Chiefs Richard Nighelli and Brian Jackvony for their forward-thinking and lauded the efforts of Public Health Nurse Lori Desmarais.

            Friday’s COVID-19 clinic is by reservation only with no walk-ups. McGrail is hoping with the 100-dose allotment per week that the town can vaccinate citizens ages 75+ over the next two weeks.

            For more information, call the town’s COVID-19 hotline at 508-748-3509.

            The 4:35 pm appointment scheduled with Heron Cove developer Ken Steen did not take place. McGrail reported ongoing negotiations with Steen with notice that he will appear on a future agenda. “We have a game plan,” said McGrail.

            In other business, the selectmen discussed and voted to approve the Massachusetts Historical Commission 2021 Survey and Planning grant application.

            They entered an executive session to consider the purchase, exchange, or lease of real property and did not return to public session.

            The next meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen is scheduled for Tuesday, February 16, at 4:00 pm.

Marion Board of Selectmen

By Mick Colageo