The Rochester Conservation Commission began its meeting held on September 1 by addressing a request for determination of applicability on a new solar array project. Their review primarily centered around whether or not the proposed project fell under the commission’s jurisdiction. 

            Eric Las of Beals and Thomas Inc., representing the applicant, shared his screen over Zoom to show the commission his plans for the site located off Braley Hill Road. The site would encompass roughly 40 acres and produce 9.5 megawatts of solar energy.

            Las explained that the project has made significant progress. The plans have already been brought before the Rochester Planning Board and received their approval. The request for determination of applicability submitted by Las seemed to be more of a formality to ensure that there would be no conflicts with the commission in the future of the project’s development.

            After his discussions with Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon, Las revealed that his final version of the proposal included a redesign to keep a completed project outside the 100-foot buffer zone for vegetated wetland areas. His plans showed that the nearest point to any buffer zone in the area is 100 feet.

            Commission member Kevin Thompson expressed concerns relating to the surrounding tree foliage and how the overall site plan demonstrated that the clearing would be conducted only in areas near the perimeter fence. Thompson recommended that Las ensure that the surrounding trees farther out would not have any potential fall hazard that could destroy the proposed site. Las provided the commission with a comprehensive vegetation analysis asserting that the surrounding vegetation and the trees will not grow tall enough to pose a significant risk to the array.

            Ultimately, the commission found that none of the work proposed by Las fell under their jurisdiction, meaning that they could easily issue a negative determination of applicability. This would allow Las to go forward with his work without a Notice of Intent for the project.

            Though she agreed that the project did not fall under commission jurisdiction, Farinon expressed the hope that Las would clearly denote the surrounding buffer zone areas on the site in order to guarantee that there is no accidental negative impact. “This does not fall under jurisdiction, but if we review the site and there is work in the buffer zone, it will come back before the commission,” Farinon explained to Las.

            The commission voted to issue a negative determination of applicability, allowing Las to move forward with his project, but Las wasn’t finished with his business with the commission.

            In the second and final public hearing of the commission, Las presented another outline for a project he ultimately hopes will gain commission approval. This time his proposal included numerous potential developments falling under commission authority.

            The proposal features a solar array that is set back roughly 350 feet to the East of Snipatuit Road in a heavily wooded area. The array would produce nearly 5 megawatts of solar power and faces significant challenges due to its location.

            The proposed area for the site is bordered by protected wetlands areas on both sides. In addition, much of the work will have to be conducted inside of the 100-foot buffer zone with some of the work falling within the border of the 25-foot no-disturb zone of a wetlands resource area.

            Las told commission members that much of the difficulty surrounding the site came from the fact that the solar array had to be split into two separate sites due to one of the town’s bylaws. The particular bylaw requires that there must be a 100-foot separation of construction on two abutting properties. For this reason, Las’s plans show a large, seemingly inexplicable gap in the solar array.

            Farinon suggested that Las seek a waiver for the bylaw from the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals, and she argued that doing so would allow much of the site to be narrowed and moved away from sensitive areas. Las explained that he was told in a public meeting that the chances of being granted such a waiver are highly unlikely so he decided not to pursue that option further.

            Commission members also voiced concerns surrounding the access road to the site. Las tried to convince the board that heavy equipment had traversed the existing road that cuts into the forest before for other projects. Still, the commission doubted that no improvements or work would be need to be done for the road to facilitate the heavy machinery required to construct the array.

            After the allotted time for Las’s presentation had expired, he still had much to discuss with the board and requested a continuance of the public hearing. Las needed more time to update his plans to address the board’s concerns and ultimately await the comments provided by the commission’s review engineer. The board voted to continue the public hearing until October 20 to allow sufficient time for Las to update his plans and to allow the town to work with a consulting engineer on the proposal.

            The next Rochester Conservation Commission meeting is scheduled to take place remotely over Zoom on Tuesday, September 15.

Rochester Conservation Commission

By Matthew Donato

            On August 27, Mattapoisett Harbormaster Jamie McIntosh proposed a number of changes to the Harbormaster’s department, including but not limited to an examination of waterway fees with an eye toward increases.

            McIntosh explained in his written proposal a necessity to offset the 21-percent increase in salaries now in place with a full-time harbormaster and more seasonal staff members. Of the seasonal staff, he wrote, “During COVID-19 restrictions and sanitation measures has forced the department to have an expanded role during the daytime hours to meet the demands of cleaning and disinfecting bathrooms, gangways, docks, and department vessels.” He went on to say that, “The popularity of the expanded staff has been a positive feature for the department, but we feel it has developed into an expectation for the coming seasons.” He also stated that an increase to fees, “will afford the same expectation of service and expanded hours,” without the funding that the department received from the CARES Act reimbursement program.

            Continuing on the theme of staffing, McIntosh proposed that a part-time, clerical-staff position should be developed with the responsibilities of, “streamlining the waitlist, permits, and stickers directly out of the Harbormaster’s office… one-stop shopping which would eliminate communication issues between multiple departments and permit holders.” While McIntosh said that the town clerk’s office did a fine job this change would benefit the public.

            The new clerical staff member would also be available during business hours to assist walk-ins when the harbormaster or deputies are unavailable, assisting with general inquires as well as performing data-entry functions.

            McIntosh acknowledged that the current Harbormaster office would need to be renovated with heat for year-round use until a more appropriate location or building is secured.

            Regarding a recent discussion at the Board of Selectmen meeting on August 25, McIntosh said he was on-board with moving the Shellfish Warden duties to his department, adding that this additional responsibility further warranted a new Harbormaster’s office in the future.

            Waterside safety was also discussed, as McIntosh said he wanted to add more navigational aids to better define the harbor’s channel and recreational area. Some new markers have been placed with encouraging results, he said, but said more are needed, specifically announcing “Special Anchorage/Recreational Area.” Further, he said swim markers are needed at Aucoot Beach to restrict vessels and jet ski activities to 300 feet from the shoreline. Rounding out areas of concern, Brandt Cove needs “Slow No Wake” and “Rock” markers as well.

            McIntosh said he would prepare a suggested new fee structure for the next meeting. Chairman Carlos DaSousa said the board was not prepared to discuss fees on this night, but would take his proposal under consideration for further discussion. DaSousa said, “The advisory board has been in favor of a clerical-staff person for some time,” and agreed that streamlining the permit process should take place.

            The board and harbormaster also discussed changes to the mooring inspection rules and regulations. McIntosh said he had been in discussion with TRIAD Boatyard and had negotiated a flat fee of $300 for two moorings or $150 for one mooring, a fee that would be paid over three years and would include the inspection of mooring equipment and the replacement of same as needed – an all-inclusive fee. DaSousa responded that some boat owners have been doing their own inspections for years. McIntosh countered that certification is required to perform the mooring inspections. The issue was tabled until the next meeting of the Mattapoisett Marine Advisory Board, scheduled for Thursday, September 24, at 7:00 pm.

Mattapoisett Marine Advisory Board

By Marilou Newell

            Public Health Nurse Kathleen Downey was so impressed with the job that Tabor Academy did in bringing its students back to campus last weekend, that she wanted to make sure Marion Town Administrator Jay McGrail and Assistant Town Administrator Judy Mooney were there to see it, too.

            “I had Judy and Jay come in Monday and look at how a drive-through is done. I was there for four days and I don’t think I saw a backup. It went very well,” Downey told the Marion Board of Health during its Tuesday afternoon Zoom meeting.

            In a drive-through format in which “nobody got out of their cars,” Downey summarized the back-to-school process in which Tabor faculty and staff came back on Tuesday and Wednesday of last week and went through COVID-19 screening and training.

            Students then poured in through the weekend and into Monday, receiving COVID-19 screening upon arrival and were encouraged to take flu shots. Downey reported 308 flu shots were administered over the four days via the Vaccine for Children program.

            “That’s double what we did there last year,” she said, noting how students were immediately quarantined in their rooms until their COVID-19 test results came back.

            Downey reported that one student was questioned and sent home for quarantine.

            Tabor moved its health services to what had been the admissions office, where the school can now quarantine a student for 14 days apart from the “healthy sick” (those ailing but not suspected for COVID-19). “This gives them a lot more flexibility because they have different areas (where students can be safely treated),” she said.

            Downey, who is working beyond her original retirement date to accommodate her replacement Lori Desmarais, is concerned about workspace challenges that will greet the new public health nurse when Desmarais reports for work on Tuesday, September 8.

            “It seems as though others will have keys to the nurse’s office… because of confidential materials that others shouldn’t have access to.” Downey said she is concerned. She said the new public health nurse’s office is substantially smaller than the old office. “I don’t think it’s possible for Lori to have another person in there with her.”

            Downey, who has been working from home and in the community, also noted that “Lori’s office does not have a phone yet; emails have not gone through.”

            She also pointed to ongoing issues with personal protective equipment; Sippican School has KN-version facemasks but not the preferred N95 masks. Downey said that after attending Department of Public Health meetings that some school districts are requiring N95 masks in order to reopen.

            Still dealing with a PPE deficit due to a large backorder of materials from the vendor McKesson, Marion is being asked by that vendor to accept substitute items. Downey called them “little things but they’re big things… needles for flu clinics.”

            Downey said all pre-K-12 students are to be vaccinated for flu by December 31. Over the last few years Marion has used 200 doses, but Downey increased the request to 425 doses.

            Finally, Downey reported having filed a report for the former health district (with Rochester). If the report gets kicked back, Downey said she did her best and “won’t do it again.”

            Desmarais, who participated on the Zoom meeting, said she had met with Fire Chief Brian Jackvony and hopes soon to set up dates for a flu clinic.

            In his Health Agent report, Dave Flaherty was happy to report no beach closures this year, having taken his last sample on Monday, the day before the meeting.

            He reported that Marion remains in the low-risk category for both EEE and West Nile virus, while Rochester and Wareham are rated high for EEE and Carver and Middleboro critical. He reminded listeners that Plymouth County Mosquito Control will spray yards and is available at 781-585-5450.

            There have been complaints about people not covering their noses with their masks. “I’ve gone in and reminded them to wear it correctly,” said Flaherty, who also reported having worked on the database for denitrification systems that Marion will eventually outsource to Barnstable County.

            Board of Health member John Howard wanted to get the word out that Marion is looking for new members to its Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Flaherty said CERT is in a holding pattern with no training at this time, but Howard said, “I think this should be a focus of the next few months of our board.” Board of Health member Dot Brown emphasized that CERT no longer includes the word “medical,” opening up the potential for those interested in training.

            Flaherty also reported on a letter sent a week ago to 33 Pitcher Street due to a complaint of trash and unregistered vehicles. Howard said the location has “been a problem for quite a while.”

            Before Chairperson Dr. Ed Hoffer, busy driving home from his practice in Boston, was able to access the Zoom meeting, Brown and Howard voted to accept Hoffer’s draft of a job description for a medical advisor who would report to the Board of Health.

            “I think it’s well written and covers the important responsibilities,” said Howard who, like Hoffer, is a physician. The day is expected when the Board of Health will not have a doctor as a voting member.

            Hoffer also authored job descriptions for the public health agent and public health nurse, prompting Flaherty to say, “Those are excellent job descriptions.” Howard agreed, and he and Brown voted to accept those job descriptions as presented including changes.

            For more information on CERT, contact Maureen Murphy at 508-748-3530.

            The next meeting of the Marion Board of Health is scheduled for Tuesday, September 15, at 4:00 pm accessible via Zoom.

Marion Board of Health

By Mick Colageo