The Rochester Board of Selectmen was notified during its December 21 meeting that the Town of Freetown had joined the Bristol-Plymouth district, declining the October 27 invitation made by the Old Colony Regional School District.

            The notification, received on December 14, means that students from Freetown currently attending Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School will be the last allowed to make that choice. Had Freetown accepted Old Colony’s invitation, the town’s addition to the district would have required a unanimous vote in Rochester’s spring Town Meeting.

            In other business, Rochester Town Counsel Blair Bailey told the selectmen to anticipate the Planning Board’s official approval of Ken Steen’s 40R residential project on Route 28 and a selectmen’s vote at its next meeting.

            Meantime, Phil Cordeiro, who has represented Steen throughout many Planning Board and Conservation Commission meetings, has requested an increase over Steen’s original request for water allocation.

            Selectman Woody Hartley asked how this request will affect Rochester’s water agreement with the Town of Wareham and whether Rochester should ask Wareham for more water.

            Bailey reported a discussion earlier in the day with Town Administrator Suzanne Szyndlar.

            “Given this project’s numbers, I think what we have to do is move forward with it and, yes, if it turns out they are using that much (water), then I think we do need to go to Wareham,” said Bailey. “I think the issue is every engineer I’ve spoken to says that those are [MAssachusetts Department of Environmental Protection] numbers that bear absolutely no resemblance to the actual water usage of the project.”

            Bailey advised that the project be permitted, and then see how much water is actually being used. “Wareham has said to us they’re absolutely willing to give us whatever water want to use,” he said. “I think we need numbers from them on their … three commercial sites that they want to [establish].”

            Szyndlar reported from a conversation with Cordeiro that his projection of over 29,000 gallons per day was based on all the future build-up scenarios that would not be completed for at least two to three years.

            On Friday, the Town of Rochester received stickers for the use of the Benson Brook Transfer Station and beach stickers from the Town of Marion. Szyndlar anticipated that Rochester’s website would post access information over the next day or two.

            Benson Brook is scheduled to open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, but the days and times are subject to change. The cost for stickers will be $70 for Rochester residents and $60 for seniors, with administrative costs tacked onto previously announced costs.

            Also, in her Town Administrator’s Report, Szyndlar reported that Delta Dental has given relief of 35 percent of the November premium adjusted invoice to subscribers who are town employees, the second time they have done so.

            The selectmen will sign the annual Town Meeting and Election warrant as one combined document.

            In a 6:10 pm continued hearing for a street name change, Rochester resident Thomas Cullen was granted a request to change the name of the road that serves his home only. 

            “It’s just a personal reason. My wife of 16 years and I have been driving down this road named in my ex-wife’s maiden name (Duhamel),” explained Cullen, who wants to celebrate the paying off of his mortgage.

            The new name will be Patty’s Way. Cullen would like a street number as well, something he will request from the building commissioner.

            Hartley reported to the board on two grant pursuits, one aimed at CARES Act funding for the development of year-round outside activities, and another for a canopy solar array in the parking lot at Rochester Memorial School.

            The selectmen voted to accept Annie Maxim House donations and send a letter of thanks on behalf of all town boards that received a donation. The donations included: $750 to the ambulance service, $1,000 to the Police Department, $500 to the Fire Department, and $250 to the Council on Aging.

            The selectmen voted to sign the Lakeville Animal Shelter annual agreement.

            The board broke off into an executive session to discuss negotiations with vendors and a strategy for negotiations with non-union personnel.

            The next meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen is scheduled for January 4 at 6:00 pm.

Rochester Board of Selectmen

By Mick Colageo

            Last summer, August 3 to be exact, developer Ryan Correia came before the Mattapoisett Planning Board asking what type of development option the town would like to see on the 21 acres he owned at 3 Crystal Springs Road.

            As reported by The Wanderer in the August 8 edition, Correia discussed several subdivision possibilities.

            “The conceptual plans as described would include eight single-family homes on large lots in the towns RR80 district. Those homes would have 3 to 4 bedrooms and two or more baths serviced by septic systems. But Correia said he wanted to plan the project that “…the town wants.”

            Correia said, “This concept is a by rights projects, but we could look at 40B housing or senior units also.” He said before his team invested in a variety of development options, they wanted to hone in on what the town would find most acceptable.

            “There are massive resource and wetlands in there,” said [engineer Nyles] Zager said of the parcel. He said that the single-family concept versus cluster units, duplexes, apartments, or condominiums would, “Fit the land with ample open spaces.” But other designs were not out of the question he stated. Zager noted that multi-unit designs would mean far more engineering and time given the wetlands on the property and that it is an area significant to Massachusetts Wildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program. “These single-family homes will be designed to fit into the natural landscape,” he said.

            The subdivision concept as presented would include three lots with frontage on Crystal Spring Road and a roadway with cul de sac for five more. “But we are looking for your input,” Ryan reiterated.

            Several board members commented that affordable housing was something the town needed with member Janice Robbins saying later in the discussion, “It seems clear we need more affordable housing in Mattapoisett, this plan will just be more homes not affordable.” “Cluster housing done right could be very affective,” she continued. Member Karen Field clearly stated, “We need 40B.”

            While the board members agreed that affordable housing was needed, where such housing should be placed remained an open question.

            Now, on December 21, Correia had made his decision to move forward with five single-family homes priced at market rates. Multiple waivers affecting the type of access roadway needed for the two lots are required to achieve what Zager called the best plan for Correia financially. “Before we go further, we need to ask the board about waivers,” said Zager.

            When asked by board member Janice Robbins exactly what waivers they would be seeking, Zager responded, “Nearly all of them.” He said that the plan would eliminate an additional three lots, possibly making the project as proposed more acceptable, given that wetlands would not be as affected by development. “The remainder of the land would remain open space.”

            Chairman Tom Tucker asked Zager to confirm with the Fire Department the type of access needed for fire trucks. The board asked Correia to return with fully executed plans and waivers required. A hearing date was not set at the end of the informal discussion.

            More stumbling blocks prevented a proposed roadway improvement project for an existing subdivision from moving forward when Steve Gioiosa of SITEC Engineering returned to the board.

            At the December 7 meeting, the board had asked Gioiosa to obtain confirmation from the Fire Department that the proposed improvements were acceptable. Robbins had also asked for a complete subdivision drawing to get a full picture of the entire subdivided area being serviced by the roadway in question. Those drawings promoted more questions than answers for Gioiosa.

            Robbins said of the submitted documents, “The 1970 subdivision created five lots on Selha Way, but the westerly side was not part of the subdivision, so it’s not legal for those lots to use Selha Way.” She said that this discovery was “an impediment to approval” of the requested site plan amendment for roadway improvements.

            Gioiosa said that such matters were not within his purview and that he would need to talk to his client, Eric Medeiros, and his attorney for further guidance.

            Robbins advised Gioiosa, saying, “This lot was never part of the subdivision, and now you have an amendment to the subdivision. I hear you that this is a road improvement plan, but you have to show this lot— the whole subdivision— as you would normally.” She went on to say that, as presented, the road was not in a recordable format and added, “Once you get the right of access, you could amend the subdivision. You need legal access before you can get approval.”

            The hearing was continued until January 4.

            Also continued until January 4 was a continued hearing for Randall Lane, LLC for the construction of a solar array.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board is scheduled for January 4 at 7:00 pm.

Mattapoisett Planning Board

By Marilou Newell

            It’s been seven years since Mattapoisett voters endorsed the establishment of a committee to review the needs of municipal departments facing projects costing at least $10,000 and to chart the course of those expenditures over a period of five to 10 years.

            No small task; yet, the effectiveness of the process has been proven. For the committee’s chairman and the town administrator, it is now time to expand the view.

            Coming together for the first time in many months, the Mattapoisett Capital Planning Committee (CPC) is once again chaired by Chuck McCullough. The committee membership, those who have held seats at the planning table for years, and those who are new to the local process, include Ellen Driscoll, John Jacobsen, Mike Rosa, Bob Burgmann, Mike Dahill, Alan Apperson, and Van Cantor. Also attending the December 16 meeting was Town Administrator Mike Lorenco.

            After introductions, McCullough detailed the work the committee was charged with performing, namely the study of departmental requests, including meetings with department heads and the Finance Committee and developing long-range spending schedules to smooth out large finance hits with a measured approach. McCullough said it was also time to review the bylaw that established the committee back in 2004 to ensure that it meets up-to-date planning needs.

            While this meeting was more of an overview, a roadmap for the group to navigate the process, there were plenty of solid ideas. For example, Burgmann thinks including operating expenses is vital to understanding the financial impact that something might have on the coffers over time.

            “We need to work more closely with department heads,” McCullough stated.

            Lorenco, whose financial background and previous experience in drafting such planning models were noted, said, “We need to capture everything out there.” He said that, during an earlier CPC meeting with the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee members, and other Tri-Town officials, it became apparent that the CPC needs to expand the earlier formats, “capturing” all types of big-ticket expenditures such as road and culvert improvements.

            Schools were also part of the discussion, and Driscoll was tapped to become the conduit between the technical upgrades that both local and district schools may need and the CPC, with Lorenco saying, “We have to get ahead of that.”

            Lorenco went on to say that he wants to “dig deep,” and that includes facility needs and structural issues facing town-owned properties. “This may not be the year for a lot of capital plan requests,” he said, citing the economic impact of COVID-19 on local, state, and federal funding. “Capital planning needs will have to be dire if it’s to be funded.”

            Lorenco said that presently free cash stands at $400,000, an $800,000 shortfall created by a delay in tax revenue due to extensions related to COVID-19. But he felt confident that, as economics improve, by the Fall of 2022, finances would be in better condition.

            Fiscal Year 2020 accounting closed about a month ago, Lorenco said, with auditors beginning their oversight work. He also said he would finish meeting with department heads and then give a full report to the CPC in January. “Then we can start making decisions on the town’s budget; I want to build a full budget by then.”

            Dahill asked about an existing list of capital requests. McCullough said that a list dated May 2019 needed to be reviewed and edited to remove items and projects no longer needed. Lorenco added that he had asked department heads to update the list.

            Regarding projects and purchases for which grants were sought but required matching sums from the town, Lorenco said the town should establish a fund for such expenditures and added, “We are going to apply for every grant we can, so we need a reserve fund.” McCullough agreed that everyone should be aware of grants being pursued to avoid “panic” when a town match is required.

            On the subject of pending large projects, Burgmann asked about the roadway improvements for Main, Water, and Beacon Streets, a project long in the making. Lorenco said that federal TIP (Transportation Improvement Program) funding was being sought but had been pushed to 2023 and that no matching funds are required.

            Burgmann replied, however, that the town would be responsible for 100 percent of the engineering costs and that the engineering firm must be available at all times during the construction phases.

            Lorenco assured him that local firm Field Engineering would be at the ready but added, “There will be costs, though,” likening the arrangement to the unplanned increase in insurance premiums for the new fire station building. “Those costs need to be part of the operating budget.”

            In closing out the meeting, McCullough said the most important thing is communication between all parties and the need for everyone to be “plugged in.”

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Capital Planning Committee is tentatively scheduled for January 13 at 6:00 pm.

Mattapoisett Capital Planning Committee

By Marilou Newell