When the Mattapoisett Master Plan Committee reconvened on April 7, its members were challenged in trying to think of ways to improve the movement of people in and around the community. It came as no surprise that the elephant in the virtual room was state Route 6.

            Subcommittee member Carole Clifford opened the conversation saying, “Route 6 has always been a problem.” She pointed to the travel speeds on the multi-lane roadway and reminded the committee that one solution that had been discussed in other venues was going back to a two-lane road that had been tried in the past. But Clifford also noted that the turning lanes were dangerous.

            Member Bob Bergman spoke to the Route 6 study completed by the Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District in 2018. He said that no consensus was reached among those attending public meetings on the conceptual designs drafted by SRPEDD. Bergman added that the study included the roadway from Fairhaven all the way to Wareham and that, undoubtedly, not one design would work over such a great distance.

            The group continued to discuss Route 6 in the abstract with thoughts on what it could look like in the future, including better functionality for economic growth, mixed with fear over the currently posted speed limits and lack of safe areas for pedestrians to cross in spite of posted crosswalks and flashing beacons. They also postulated over how, as a group, they could affect change if they came to a consensus.

            Planning Board acting administrator Mike Gagne brought the subject of crossings into better focus when he said that the engineering firm VHB had met with members of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation regarding the placement of a pedestrian crossing light at the intersection of Railroad Avenue and Route 6, an idea not favorably received. He continued, saying that Mattapoisett Police Chief Mary Lyons was not in favor of a pedestrian crossing at the intersection of Route 6 and River Road for safety reasons. Gagne suggested, instead of looking at Route 6 in its entirety, that the committee pick smaller, more manageable and achievable goals and to develop a prioritized list for the selectmen.

            Planning Board member Janice Robbins reminded the committee that the town has an ally in Representative William Straus as a resident of the community and a member of the state Transportation Committee. She said his assistance in getting changes to Route 6 accepted would be critical.

            Attending the meeting from SRPEDD was Jeb Cornock, principal comprehensive planner. Addressing the committee, he said, “Route 6 is an old road. It isn’t safe for bicyclists or pedestrians.” He said that a 2018 study included the possibility of taking the roadway down to two lanes. Cornock said reducing the lanes is the only way to reduce the posted travel speeds. He also noted that Wareham is implementing some Route 6 changes based on the study at the dangerous intersection of Swifts Beach Road, but he also cautioned, “You need a consensus at the leadership level,” before approaching the state. On a positive note, Cornock said that gaining local control over some aspects of a redesign project is possible.

            Gagne also shared some hopeful news, saying that the town is in the beginning stages of pursuing a Green Community status and introduced Lizeth Gonzalez, senior comprehensive planner with SRPEDD. Gonzalez said the town has recently taken steps towards applying for more grant monies by expressing interest in a new process called One Stop for Growth. She explained it is a new state program geared toward easing the complicated and time-consuming process of applying for state grants, that this would be 10 grants rolled into one covering everything from housing to economic development.

            Planning Board Chairman Tom Tucker expressed frustration that Master Plans do not affect change. “Stuff in the Master Plan get lost over time, nothing gets done,” he said. Tucker cited two affordable housing lots that had been previously identified, but no movement to get them into ownership has taken place. “How can we make sure our boards know how a Master Plan works?”

            Gagne concurred, saying, “It gets put on a shelf and collects dust, it’s sad.” He suggested passing a bylaw mandating that the Master Plan be read by all seated board members at least once a year. This, he thought, might help recommendations contained therein see action.

            Gagne again urged the committee to take the issues related to Route 6 in small pieces, to sit down with business owners and SRPEDD to draft a list of priorities. Gonzalez said such a list could be incorporated into the Master Plan with milestones and benchmarks that could be updated annually.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Master Plan Committee is scheduled for Wednesday, May 5, at 7:00 pm.

Mattapoisett Master Plan Committee

By Marilou Newell

            The Marion Zoning Board of Appeals is looking for a few good members.

            The March 28 departure of Chairperson Christina Frangos was dealt with stunning ease during the ZBA’s April 8 Zoom meeting, in which Cynthia Callow volunteered and was immediately thanked and voted into the lead position by attending members Margie Baldwin, Jim Ryba, and Will Tifft.

            Member Dr. Ed Hoffer, who is also the chair of the town’s Board of Health, was not present for the April 8 meeting. Tifft is an alternate member whom the ZBA hopes can swiftly be approved by the Board of Selectmen for full-member status. Ideally, Administrative Assistant Anne Marie Tobia told the board, the ZBA should have five full members and three alternates.

            A public appeal for new membership was made, and necessary steps include an interview with candidates during a public meeting and a potential recommendation by the ZBA to the selectmen for a final decision of appointment.

            “This is a fairly significant number of people we’re asking to bring on. Do you guys have a sense of what kind of people you like other than even-tempered and thoughtful and fair?” asked Tifft.

            “I just think you have to have a level head and you’re willing to listen to all sides of the issue, and come to consensus,” said Baldwin.

            “It’s really important that we have a quorum every time,” said Tobia, noting that the ZBA meets only twice per month. “If meetings stretch on and on like Heron Cove, we have got to have the same board, so snowbirds make it tough. As long as we are consistent.”

            Tifft said that, as long as the Town of Marion allows its boards to meet via remote access (Zoom), “That makes it a lot easier.” Baldwin agreed, citing the case of a traveling board member available to join a meeting via Zoom. Tifft told the board he expects that there might be a lot of people, like himself, who would be willing to commit provided they can travel as he frequently does, and use Zoom to attend on those occasions.

            Tobia said it is her understanding that Marion boards and committees will continue to meet via Zoom until at least the May 10 Town Meeting, then it will be a decision made by individual boards. “But I like the Zoom meetings, too, they’re easy. I have a good reference. If my recording goes awry for some reason, I like it,” she said.

            Callow cited hybrid meetings, regularly used by some area boards including the Marion Conservation Commission, with anchoring Chairman Shaun Walsh at the police station while other members, applicants, and the public can attend via Zoom.

            “A snowbird could do it … if somebody’s away, they can still tune in,” said Callow. “But it is tough … they need to commit to two Thursdays a month.”

            Another sensitive aspect of ZBA member recruiting is the potential for personal agenda on the part of candidates.

            “Sometimes, people with irons in the fire, once the iron gets fired their agenda is done and they leave,” said Callow, agreeing with Tifft’s cautionary remark on the subject. “They have an agenda and once their agenda is either met or they realize their agenda isn’t going to (realized), they up and quit.”

            “I have my biases, but I don’t have a financial bias,” said Tifft.

            “And I think you need someone that cares about the community,” said Ryba, whose impending resignation further impacts the board.

            Baldwin suggested recruiting past members of the Planning Board, whose experience could prove valuable to a changing ZBA.

            Louise Nadler, still listed on the town’s website as an alternate member, has not officially resigned but has not contacted Tobia in over a year. Callow’s term expires on June 30, 2023. Frangos’ term was scheduled to expire on June 20, 2024.

            The April 8 meeting’s only scheduled public hearing, the continued Heron Cove, LLC development, was continued per an April 6 letter to the ZBA from attorney Mark Bobrowski. At the applicant’s request, the public hearing was continued to June 10 at 6:30 pm.

            The next meeting of the Marion Zoning Board of Appeals is scheduled for Thursday, April 22, at 6:30 pm.

Marion Zoning Board of Appeals

By Mick Colageo

            The Old Rochester School Committee held a special meeting on April 13 to vote for its approval of the regional agreement amendment proposal that its members hope will be on all three town meeting warrants.

            The committee took two votes, the first to approve the amended agreement and the second to establish a system for a capital stabilization fund based on a five-year rolling average of enrollment.

            The amendments, as summarized by Heather Burke, bring the language up to current law and state standards. Committee member Tina Rood, not present at the meeting, was publicly thanked for her diligence in examining the existing language and studying best practices.

            The new model would be based on a three-year rolling average of enrollment, meant to smooth the budgeting process for the individual towns and avoid massive budgetary hits in any single year. Terms for elected committee members would start on July 1 rather than at the time of their election. Section 1G of Massachusetts General Law also leveraged a change to the “one person, one vote” model in which voting power for each town’s representation will reflect that town’s relative population.

            Marion and Rochester school committees also met during the last week, both voting to approve their Fiscal Year 2022 school budgets during their respective April 7 and April 8 public hearings.

            Marion’s $6,456,815 assessed based operating budget for FY22 is a $155,648 increase (2.47 percent) over the FY21 figure of $6,301,167.

            Rochester’s $6,798,275 assessed based operating budget for FY22 is a $188,444 increase (2.851 percent) over the FY21 figure of $6,609,831.

            Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber laid out presentations for both towns displaying total operations budgets, financial offsets including grant funding and circuit breakers, impacts (staffing changes), strategies (foundation, necessities, and commitments), tuition-based programming cost increases, and decreases (building usage, technology, and supplies).

            Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson said that ORR made use of building opportunities and CARES Act funding to produce a “modified level-services” budget for FY22.

            Taking advantage of decreases of approximately $5,000 to each of Marion’s three school building investments along with technology and supplies, plus a retirement from the teacher’s union and another from the administration/paraprofessional union, Nelson said that Marion made FY22 gains, including advancement from a 0.2 to 0.6 social worker. He also reported that a majority of Marion’s school contract agreements expire on June 30, 2021. State aid (Chapter 70) to Marion will increase by $12,000 in FY22.

            In Rochester, one of the budget impacts is a full-time educational interventionist, an addition conceived in discussions with RMS Principal Derek Medeiros and approved by the Rochester School Committee. All of Rochester’s union contracts also expire in 2021; there will be two retirements from the teachers union and a resignation from the paraprofessional union. State aid (Chapter 70) to Rochester will increase by $14,490 in FY22.

            Both Marion and Rochester school committees voted for the Memorandum of Approval (MOA) with their teachers’ unions.

            Rochester Capital Planning Chairman David Arancio presented to the Rochester School Committee on the Capital Planning Committee’s activity. Arancio shared a presentation showing FY20 projects, including Go Math Curriculum ($30,773) and Video Surveillance Upgrade ($86,817, ultimately funded another way) and FY21 projects, including 2nd Phase Technology Upgrade ($26,776) and HVAC Unit Replacement ($16,800).

            FY22 projects displayed by Arancio included: Replacement of 2015 Laptops/Devices ($15,480), Building Alarm System ($12,550), and Irrigation for Playing Field ($38,500) for a total of $66,530.

            It is a festive time in the elementary schools, where grades 3-6, as recently as April 5, resumed full in-person learning at a modified 3-6 foot social distancing model with all desks facing the same direction. Social distancing is still 6 feet for faculty and staff and mealtime, and everyone in the school buildings is still wearing a facemask.

            Social distancing for K-2 at Rochester Memorial School remains at 6 feet. Medeiros reported a question-answer session on March 29 with feedback from parents and guardians. “Folks brought up some great points to us in areas of concern for us to think about so this week could be successful…. An outstanding job by our students and families,” he said. The in-person pivot has 67 third graders at RMS, 56 fourth graders, 70 fifth graders, and 62 sixth graders. The pivot to full in-person learning led to 49 students shifting back to busing over private rides. Medeiros thanked the Rochester Police for assistance in managing arrival and dismissal.

            Sippican School Principal Marla Sirois reported that the cafeteria has 54 desks at 6 feet apart for Grades K-3, while 80 desks are situated in the Multipurpose Room for Grade 4-6. Arrival/Dismissal is the same as it was during the hybrid segment of the school year, and buses are back using the loop behind the school. Band is back in session, as the first graders have been relocated. “The kids are really doing a really fantastic job with the social distancing,” said Sirois, who noted that all singing is outside the school building.

            Nelson presented the outline of the district’s 2021-22 academic calendar. No vote was taken; the Joint School Committee will vote on the calendar. That committee’s next meeting is being rescheduled (TBD).

            As proposed, the first day of school will be August 31 with a November 24-26 Thanksgiving break, early dismissal on December 23 with vacation through December 31, and an April 15-22 vacation week. June 16 would be the last day of school (five days are built-in for weather), and the Juneteenth state holiday would fall on June 20 should ORR schools still be in session.

            Craig Davidson, director of student services, presented the results of an Equity & Inclusion Survey, in which Grade 6-12 students took part focusing on cultural awareness and action. “When we did the survey, hearing the students’ voices was the most important part,” said Davidson.

            Nelson stressed that ORR School District’s commitment is ongoing. “Last year, what I heard is we really need data,” he said, saying that the district is now in the middle of the process and looping in cultural-proficiency teams “to make sure we have buy-in…. This is a multi-year process that we’re committed to.”

            Nelson said the goal is to “make sure curriculum is representing a balanced story,” to “make sure (ORR) students enter the world with a global (outlook),” and to create ongoing opportunities for the students to continue learning.

            Both Marion and Rochester school committees voted to renew Nelson’s appointment as the committees’ designee to the READS Collaborative.

            Nelson told the Rochester School Committee that, pending approval at the town level, the purchase of a tent would allow RMS students to take mask breaks in inclement weather. Rochester School Committee put off its scheduled reorganization discussion until its May 6 meeting.

            The next ORR School Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 12, at 6:30 pm. The next Marion School Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 19, at 6:30 pm. The next Rochester School Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 6, at 6:30 pm.

School Committees

By Mick Colageo

            Reporting on the status of pilot testing for Koch Separation Systems upgrade of the water treatment plant, Jon Gregory of Tata & Howard told the April 13 meeting of the Mattapoisett River Valley Water District Commission that he was surprised to learn that Koch has received new technology approval prior to the pilot test.

            “We thought it was going to be conditional, but it appears from the letter (from the state Department of Environmental Protection) that they have their approval in place,” he said.

            After working with Koch, Tata & Howard submitted its proposal to the DEP, and Gregory said, “It appears we have met their expectations.” He said he contacted Koch on Tuesday morning to discuss logistics and expects Koch could possibly be shipping it to Mattapoisett by the end of the week. “Realistically, early next week,” said Gregory, outlining a four-week pilot-testing period that would be followed by a report sent to the DEP. By the time the commission meets in May, Gregory said, the pilot testing program should be well underway.

            Commission member Paul Silva asked if the MRV should develop a timeline for all the pieces necessary, noting that there are, at best, two opportunities to get the funding. “Just one miss on that, and it could delay this thing a whole year,” he said, suggesting a meeting with the four participating towns’ selectmen and finance committees. “One community stumble, and we’re sitting here another year waiting; [I’m] just concerned about that.”

            Chairman Vinnie Furtado, the Fairhaven representative, said that, pending the commission’s direction, “Do what I can do to get it into my capital plan” upon completion of the pilot study. He said that for Fairhaven, it is a choice between a $3 million or $4 million upgrade, “and we pay 60 percent of the bill…. We have to decide how we’re going to move forward with this.”

            The MRV has reached a crossroads in its decision on whether to upgrade to the newest Koch technology or, for less cost, continue maintaining its current setup. The problem with sticking with the old technology is its replacement parts will be phased out.

            Furtado said, from a financing standpoint, “This fall or a year from now should be our target.” He encouraged the commission to think progressively and not take for granted the job Renauld has done to get several more years of life out of the existing system than what was projected. “We’re really taking a shot; Henri does a great job.”

            Renauld said in his Treatment Plant Operations Update that a compressor check valve let go. He also replaced the transducer on a lost compressor, lost a motor on a lower compressor, and replaced a blown gasket that required a chemical cleanup. “Due to age,” he said, “if we’re looking at these (old) filters, we’re going to be doing a lot more valves going forward.”

            In his Tata & Howard Report, Gregory discussed a risk and resiliency assessment and would send a quality-control report to Renauld and Furtado next week for their review.

            With the fiscal year coming to an end and town meetings on the horizon, Gregory said that it is time for the commission to consider FY22 chemical bids. He said that he would start preparing documents over the next couple of weeks and get some bids in by early June. Blair Bailey suggested making sure potential bidders know about their opportunity.

            The commission discussed the ongoing herring run, and what Renauld said was a mild drought with rain down 3.5 inches off its normal pace. But he did add that the rivers are running well, and herring are on their way up. Laurell Farinon said the Mattapoisett River is looking low and that Dave Watling reported that herring migration is significantly off.

            In her Commission Treasurer’s Report, Meghan Davis gave a total figure of $101,990.37, itemizing $7,800 in invoices, $21,001.75 in total electric, $16,950.37 in total maintenance and repair; and $6,830.61 in total charges associated with Tata & Howard.

            Member emeritus David Pierce asked Vice Chairman Henri Renauld about the commission’s solar panel program. Renauld reported that a $14,199.84 electric bill was reduced to $11,389 at 80 cents on the dollar in addition to smaller bills. Renauld also reported that wiring is now underground, allowing for fewer interruptions in service and less impact from trees knocked down by storms. “Eversource is going to be taking care of the repairs from now on,” he said.

            Davis told the commission that she plans to resign as treasurer but remain a member, citing the impending retirement of David Willett as Marion’s DPW director and her expectation of an increased workload. Davis noted that respective Marion and Mattapoisett town administrators Jay McGrail and Mike Lorenco had discussed possibly maintaining an outside bookkeeper; Willett stated that the commission needs to fill the spot.

            Willett will stay on with Marion to help see the town through its costly wastewater lagoon project. Furtado said he would put the treasurer’s position on the agenda for the commission’s next meeting on May 11.

            The MRV Water Protection Advisory Committee voted to send a letter approving a Form C subdivision off Gerrish Road and Longbow Lane in Rochester, pending the vetting processes standard to the town.

            The committee’s level loggers are apparently running out of life at the same time so, with multiple failures, its members voted to buy three new units at $592 each.

            In his Committee Treasurer’s Report, Jeff Furtado reported a net total of $240,139.41 as of April 1. He listed invoices totaling $3,893.75, $3,405.03 of which is from Tata & Howard. The committee voted to pay on three new invoices reported by Vinnie Furtado: $251.72 to Watling, $50 to Bailey, and $5,973.49 to Tata & Howard.

            The committee and commission members opened their meetings with a moment of silence to remember engineer Patrick O’Neill, who passed away two weeks ago. “Good guy, sorely, sorely missed,” said Vinnie Furtado.

            The next meetings of the MRV Water Supply Protection Committee and Water District Commission are respectively scheduled for Tuesday, May 11, at 3:30 and 4:00 pm.

MRV Water District Commission

MRV Water Protection Supply Committee

By Mick Colageo