In its only March 24 decision, the Marion Conservation Commission voted unanimously to approve an order of Resource Area Delineation, approving as accurate the resource areas as revised on March 22 in W. Dale Jones’ application.

            The Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation (ANRAD) that ConCom Chairman Shaun Walsh described as a rarely sought filing, confirms the research conducted by Jones’ representatives. Other members voting included Cindy Callow, Jeff Doubrava, Ethan Gerber and Marc Bellanger.

            In a public hearing continued from March 10, Jones had filed the ANRAD for review and confirmation of wetland resource area boundaries where he plans to build a house on Register Road. The resource areas are approved for three years, but Jones can file a request for extension should the end game face obstacles.

            Bob Gray, wetlands scientist, presented on behalf of the Joneses. Gray said that Walter Hartley conducted a street survey, and Walsh confirmed reception. The new survey marked intermittent streams and perennial streams.

            Walsh referenced his correspondence with DEP wetlands circuit rider Andrew Poyant for feedback regarding the stream. Poyant marked the stream perennial (establishing riverfront area) and noted the drought that ruled out the use of results between July 1, 2020 and January 7, 2021.

            Walsh commended the Joneses for identifying the remainder of the stream as it flows through Sippican Lands Trust property. Walsh said that information would inform present and future property owners as to their obligations.

            Three applicants filed new Notices of Intent that were heard, discussed, and subjected to March 20 site visits. After discussion, all three public hearings were continued to ConCom’s next scheduled meeting on Wednesday, April 14, at 7:00 pm.

            J. Thomas Bowler Jr. and Ellen Bowler filed their NOI for demolition of a single-family house built in 1986 to be replaced by a new house at 17 Moorings Road. The NOI also encompasses installation of a stone, recharge trench for roof runoff, construction of an in-ground swimming pool, associated filling and grading, and removal and replacement of trees and landscaping.

            The Bowlers were represented by Dave Davignon of Schneider, Davignon, & Leone Inc., plus representatives from the landscaping contractor and the non-profit development consultant greenGoat.

            Davignon said the proposed house is outside the buffer zone. “The intention is to tie into (town) sewer,” he said, noting that the existing septic system will remain in service until the sewer tie-in is complete. The new house will not sit in a DEP flood zone. The footprint will slide westerly.

            “The majority is what you see (on the site plan) will be done outside of the Conservation Commission’s jurisdiction,” said Davignon.

            The house will be built atop a shallow, crawl-space foundation. A tree that sits 20 feet from the sea wall in the northeast corner of the property will be removed. The retaining wall runs parallel to the shoreline. It will start out at 17 feet high (existing grade is 16 feet) and drops off to approximately 12 feet.

            John and Judith Wyman’s NOI at 12 Bell Guzzle Lane seeks to construct a 160 square-foot addition to their garage, a 296 square-foot carport requiring that several large trees be removed, a 120 square-foot expansion of their driveway, and 2,400 square feet of paving over a gravel driveway.

            Representing the Wymans, Rick Charon explained that the paving will help clear snow in the winter, as the owners plan on spending more time at the house.

            Charon said the garage is approximately the age of the house, which dates back to the 1960s. The house has no gutters, so rock will be added around the house. He characterized the work as low-impact. “We’re working with the wetland lines that are there,” he said.

            Walsh asked if there would be some material change to the depth under the stone surrounding the house. Charron said no, that the runoff had pooled away from the house, so it is best to leave the soil alone.

            “It’s not marshy,” said Walsh, having participated in the site visit. “To me, this is a buffer-zone project.”

            Christopher Kaplinsky’s NOI applies to construct a patio, retaining wall, planting bed, and deck reconstruction at 41 East Avenue.

            Chris Gilbert represented Klapinsky and told ConCom that the entire property is in a flood zone. He also noted that plans call for lowering the deck.

            According to Gilbert, the retaining wall would be placed 34 feet from the seawall. The patio would sit 41 feet and the deck 51 feet from the seawall. Work would be set no closer to 30 feet from the seawall. The retaining wall will max out at 3.5 feet high

            In other business, ConCom discussed a request for comments from the Board of Selectmen to assist the latter’s decision on the application for a special permit filed by Papa’s Real Estate, LLC on Luce Avenue to operate a propane storage facility. The application is scheduled for an April 20 public hearing with the selectmen.

            Bruce Hebbel, former New Bedford’s environmental project manager and former member of the Marion Conservation Commission circa 2006, has applied for an open associate membership with ConCom. Walsh hopes Hebbel will be on the April 6 Board of Selectmen’s agenda.

            The next meeting of the Marion Conservation Commission is scheduled for Wednesday, April 14, at 7:00 pm.

Marion Conservation Commission

By Mick Colageo

            During the March 25 meeting of the Mattapoisett Marine Advisory Board, Harbormaster Jamie McIntosh explained the importance of a certifiable harbor management plan.

            McIntosh said that the plan posted on the town’s website, mattapoisett.net, while helpful to a degree at the time it was written in 2011, falls short of current needs. Not only does the plan not cover all topics necessitated by 2021 standards for such documents, but it lacks data on such matters as climate change and environmental resiliency, rendering the plan too outdated to be included in the upcoming rewrite of Mattapoisett’s Master Plan.

            McIntosh said that, while the Board of Selectmen was lukewarm to his idea of hiring consultants Urban Harbor Institute, Boston, to write a comprehensive and certifiable harbor management plan for Mattapoisett, he believes it would give the town the data and credibility needed when trying to secure grants.

            When asked what sort of data he was referring to, McIntosh cited sea-level rise, aquaculture, and grant funding, which oftentimes is requested upon the submission of a state-certified harbor management plan. It is no small task to complete the study behind such a document, McIntosh pointed out, saying it takes up to a year and a half to complete. He also indicated that grant funding to pay for the plan is possible.

            Marine Advisory Board Chairman Carlos DeSousa said he would review Dartmouth’s harbor management plan, which McIntosh indicated is a good one, as well as the type of data Urban Harbor Institute would include.

            In other matters, McIntosh reported that the long awaited dredging project would have to wait still longer as the window of opportunity closed with the advancement of spring. He said that he had recently met with Field Engineering and that permit requests were headed back to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and then further on to the Department of Marine Fisheries, making it impossible to get the job done before the boating season is in full swing.

            McIntosh said that, although the cumbersome process extends the inconvenience for those boaters whose dinghies become inaccessible at low tides, it also brings an opportunity to apply for grant money from the state Department of Environmental Protection to help defray costs to the town. He hopes to be successful in securing $15,000 with an equal match from the town. “We’ll have to tackle the dredging in the fall,” he concluded.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Marine Advisory Board is scheduled for Thursday, April 29, at 7:00 pm.

Mattapoisett Marine Advisory Board

By Marilou Newell

            As the clock ticks down to the May 10 Annual Town Meeting for Mattapoisett voters, Town Administrator Mike Lorenco and his finance team at Town Hall continue to prepare spreadsheets and supporting documents. These pieces of information then are shared with both Capital Planning and Finance Committee members, as those volunteers continue to ask questions, the answers of which will further the FY22 pencil-sharpening process.

            But one line item that is hard to trim remains the cost of road improvements.

            During March 24 and 25 meetings with FinCom and Capital Planning, Lorenco shared information on the village streets project, Pearl Street improvements, Industrial Drive reconstruction, and the possibility of borrowing.

            The village streets project, Main, Water, and Beacon Streets, is still working towards a 25-percent design goal, Lorenco said. He reported from recent discussions with consultants VHB that the project is on the state’s FY26 TIP funding schedule, although the hope had been for an earlier placement. The whole construction project has been pegged at approximately $7 million.

            As Lorenco had shared during the recent Board of Selectmen meeting, VHB has received $250,000 thus far, and needs another $175,000 to reach the 75-percent design stage. Once the 25-percent design stage is achieved, however, those documents will be sent along to the Department of Transportation and Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District (SRPEDD) for review.

            Regarding the reconstruction of Pearl Street, Lorenco told both committees that there are monies in hand to do the water and sewer portions and that, while a Complete Streets grant for sidewalks from Route 6 to Church Street is awaiting acceptance, another $750,000 would be needed for the job to be completed.

            Lorenco discussed funding options, including the possibility of borrowing enough to pay for both Pearl Street and some of the funding needed for Industrial Drive. He explained that it might be possible to borrow using a short-term loan or bond anticipation note, but said, “I’m not recommending long-term debt; it’s too expensive.”

            Drilling the numbers a bit further on what is possible, Lorenco said that the cost of borrowing up to $2,600,000, which would cover both Pearl Street and the town’s portion of Industrial Drive, could be added to the tax levy, resulting in approximately $26 per year for 20 years.

            In a follow-up, Lorenco said that he is providing the town with various funding options for roadwork construction projects and that borrowing has not been fully vetted at this time. He also said that no money for Industrial Drive may be secured through borrowing without grants in hand. Presently, the estimate for that reconstruction project amounts to $935,000 coming from the town coffers and an equal sum from grant matches.

Addressing the Industrial Drive project, Selectman Jordan Collyer stated during the March 24 Board of Selectman meeting, “We wouldn’t do anything if no grants come through.”

            In other business, during the Capital Planning meeting, the prioritization of requests was shared. The list from highest priority to lowest is a new police cruiser at $55,000, fire boat replacement pontoons at $14,500, Highway Department sidearm mower at $85,000, local schools phone system upgrade at $42,889, Center School floor repairs at $25,000, library roof and skylight repairs at $18,500, and waterfront repair engineering at Long Wharf at $54,000 for a total of $294,889 coming from free cash.

            Other capital expenses approved by the committee were $250,000 coming from debt exclusion for roadway repairs; $90,000 from the Water Enterprise Fund for various expenses, including $25,000 for new building conceptual designs; $95,000 from the Sewer Enterprise Fund, which also includes $25,000 for new building conceptual designs; and a police cruiser from the tax levy for $55,000.

            Next stop for the Capital Planning FY22 list: The Board of Selectmen.

            Regarding a new Transfer Station loader, which has been a discussion item during various committee meetings, Chairman Chuck McCullough suggested a cautious wait-and-see approach, not allocating any money for new equipment at this time given that an in-use aging piece is “limping along,” and that a study on the entire Transfer Station operation will be commencing soon.

            During the Finance Committee meeting, members reviewed FY22 line items covering salaries and department head raises. Lorenco said that the Department of Revenue had approved merit raise procedures versus a standard 2-percent annual raise, and that a full explanation would be given at Town Meeting. Possible changes to the conservation agent position and upgrades to the position of assistant to the town administrator were also aired. Lorenco said that, currently, $35,000 is scheduled for those salary increases, but that he believes not all of it would be needed.

            The possibility of the town moving away from the elected position of highway surveyor to a town engineer was explored. Lorenco said a preliminary review of what other towns are paying for an all-inclusive town engineer found New Bedford paying between $75,000 and $110,000 for several employees; Lakeville and Kingston are each paying $80,000, while Dartmouth has four engineers earning between $80,000 and $100,000. Fairhaven is also in the process of evaluating its need for a town engineer.    Earlier in the meeting, member Tyler Macallister asked if the town had calculated any savings on supplies normally consumed at the schools when in full session, given school closing and hybrid models. Lorenco said he would look into that.

            The $24,000 assessment from Bristol County Agricultural High School was also discussed with Lorenco saying that a meeting is scheduled with the school. “I don’t believe we should be assessed,” he said, adding that Rochester is looking at nearly $90,000. These assessments, Lorenco had previously stated, were based on a borrowing that Bristol Aggie had taken for school construction. However, not all towns sending students to Bristol Aggie were never granted the opportunity to participate in that spending decision.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Finance Committee is scheduled for Thursday, April 1, at 4:00 pm. Capital Planning’s next meeting has yet to be announced.

Mattapoisett Capital Planning and Finance committees

By Marilou Newell