Rochester is preparing for its next solar array farm, this time on 32 acres of land off Old Middleboro Road and Walnut Plain Road.

            The project proposed by Solar MA Project Management, LLC would be the eighth solar energy development in Rochester, and the largest so far with an energy generating capacity of five megawatts of electricity.

            The Rochester Planning Board opened up the Special Permit public hearing on October 31 for round one of what will become a series of continued public hearings as the board works with its peer-review engineer to achieve full compliance with the town’s solar bylaw.

            Austin Turner from Bohler Engineering presented the board with a plan that has seen some changes along the way through the Notice of Intent process with the Conservation Commission and after a few informal technical review meetings with the Planning Board.

            “The plan has evolved and, frankly, benefitted from those conversations,” said Turner before presenting a brief history of an informal conceptual review in September.

            The land proposed for solar development is only 32 acres out of the 260-acre property the solar developer purchased in order to acquire an access point to reach the site that is surrounded by a vast system of wetlands.

            The remaining 228 acres, which includes sites that the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program has identified as habitat for rare and endangered species, will be deeded as conservation land to be held and managed by the Buzzards Bay Coalition.

            Old Middleboro Road, which has been deemed an ‘ancient way’ and will provide the primary access to the site, will be widened from 12 feet to 16 feet to accommodate the maneuvering of emergency response vehicles. Some rerouting of the way is also planned.

            As an ancient way, public use of Old Middleboro Road for access to other nearby properties will continue. Turner confirmed this after the developer consulted with town counsel to establish the right of access for those who have historically traversed Old Middleboro Road.

            A stormwater management system consisting of three stormwater basins and a system of perimeter vegetated swales is proposed so that water runoff can infiltrate into the ground.

            Planning Board Chairman Arnie Johnson noted the presence of a historical stone foundation within the 32 acres, which Turner said would be precisely marked and preserved.

            According to Johnson, Town Planner Steve Starrett did some research on the possible history of the ruins, “And the guy (who once lived there) was kind of a prominent person, so we would probably want to protect that and probably… would like to maintain public access to that part of that site as well,” said Johnson.

            “I think we could accommodate that,” said Turner. “Right now we don’t think that will be a problem.”

            Johnson said he prefers holding a site visit sooner rather than later, and asked Turner to be sure flagging is completed to indicate the limits of clearing, where the edge of the panels will be, and where the access road will be.

            A few abutters new to the solar farm permitting process asked some familiar questions asked by residents before them, such as the extent of any noise or light emitting from the site. As Planning Board member Ben Bailey stated, the humming from the transformers would be audible only from a limited distance, and “quieter than the conversation we’re having now.”

            As for light emissions, the panels contain no other source of light apart from the sun that shines on them during the day. There is also no exterior lighting proposed for the site.

            A representative from Decas Cranberry voiced a concern about the potential for access road improvements encouraging further ATV use into abutting Decas property, but apart from the gate that will secure the actual solar farm, no further gates can go up on Old Middleboro Road.

            “They’re not allowed by law to block an ancient way,” Johnson said.

            Before adjourning, Johnson reassured concerned residents that this was only the first night of the public hearing and that there would be plenty of additional opportunities to ask questions along the way.

            The public hearing was continued until November 12.

            Also during the meeting, the board approved the Special Permit for a large-scale solar farm on Marion Road for Rochester Farms, LLC, owned by Craig Canning.

            The next meeting of the Rochester Planning Board is scheduled for November 12 at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.

Rochester Planning Board

By Jean Perry

            Marion residents, what would you be willing to pay for a transfer station sticker? Forty dollars, $50, or more? This was the question on the minds of the selectmen during the November 5, Marion Board of Selectmen meeting as they face the pressure of putting a price on the transfer station stickers before they go into effect on January 1, 2020.

            The Benson Brook transfer station is owned and run by the Carver, Marion, Wareham Regional Refuse Disposal District. Just recently, the CMWRRDD decided to offer one transfer station sticker to the three towns in the district, but only more recently did the district discover that it was not permitted to do so. Now, the three towns must sell those CMWRRDD stickers at a cost that each town will itself determine. Marion must now impose its own price on the transfer station sticker and also figure out how much to charge for a separate Town of Marion privilege sticker for parking and beach access.

            Bob Partridge, a Marion member of the CMWRRDD Board, joined the selectmen in the discussion and provided as much information as he could to help them wrap their heads around the matter. And as Marion negotiates its ‘Mexit’ from the CMW, the town hopes it can operate the Benson Brook transfer station on its own, but sticker fees will have to cover the operational costs.

            According to the data Partridge presented, a vehicle count of the Marion-based transfer station revealed that the average number of vehicles entering the station is about 426 a week. That is, of course, the calculated average, although in January the number dips as low as 330 and as high as 650 mid-summer. But all member towns of the CMW district are allowed to use the station, not only Marion. Partridge said about 30 percent of those vehicles counted are registered in Marion, while roughly 70 percent were from Wareham.

            That approximate average of 127 Marion vehicles per week (30 percent) is, basically, with a sticker that costs only $10. So if the sticker costs more, would Marion residents still use the transfer station?

            The sticker fee would not necessarily be utilized to fund the 2020 operation of the transfer station, because the district will continue to be reimbursed by SEMASS and offered a $0-per-ton tipping fee until December 31, 2020. The fee Marion collects for 2020 stickers would fund the town’s endeavor to maintain the transfer station as its own and pay for the associated costs, such as equipment and employees to keep the station open at least a couple days a week.

            But Town Administrator Jay McGrail and the board are unsure of the number of residents that would continue to buy the sticker at a higher rate compared to the $10 sticker.

            “If we charge $40 for a sticker… and we sell 100 of them we know it’s going to be a lot harder for us to run the transfer station,” said McGrail.

            Selectman Norm Hills liked the sound of a $40 transfer station sticker with an additional $10 town privilege sticker, which would be in line with surrounding towns’ transfer station sticker fees.

            Still, Board of Selectmen Chairman Randy Parker asked, “Do we really need to charge $40 for that?”

            It’s a good way to find out how many stickers the town would sell at a given price, Selectman John Waterman suggested, adding, “I think we need to find out what the demand is to use the trash station, and if it’s free then we’ll never find out… Because I think we’re testing the market and that’s a good starting point… and we’ll see how many of these transfer station stickers we sell for 50 bucks.”

            Parker said he needs significantly more information before the board can agree on a price.

            “I just feel a little guilty charging the residents 50 bucks for something we’ve been charging them $10 for,” said Parker.

            Waterman suggested it would make the transition easier if the town charged only $50 now before possibly having to hike the price up to $150 in order to keep the transfer station operating for Marion residents. “And,” he said, “we find out if anyone is willing to pay it.” If they won’t pay $50, then clearly they won’t be willing to pay $150 the next year, he said.

            The selectmen agreed they needed more time and information, but McGrail gently reminded them that the decision must be made by early December.

            McGrail is now tasked with formulating an equation to estimate what the transfer station’s operating costs might be and to suggest an appropriate sticker fee.

            Meanwhile, after Town Meeting voted in favor of a Mexit from the CMW district, the town has begun its negotiations with the district; however, if the district decides as a whole that it wants to dissolve its association, Marion would not be forced to continue in its efforts to leave.

            According to Partridge, CMWRRDD board members are seriously considering a full dissolution of the district, save for the existence of a “skeleton” entity to continue to cover the costs of outstanding liabilities, such as one retiree’s pension and benefits.

            “Right now, the ball is in the [CMWRRDD’s] court,” said Partridge. ”…But first, they need to vote on whether the district will remain a district.”

            The CMWRRDD Board could vote on its fate as a district within the next month. Its next meeting is scheduled for November 20.

            “They’re going to have to make a hard decision one way or another,” said McGrail.

            The good news is that, should Marion leave the CMWRRDD, Covanta has agreed to a $77-per-ton tipping fee (with a 2.5 percent escalator each year) for solid waste disposal at SEMASS for a contract period of five years.

            McGrail called it a “great deal,” and said no matter how high trash disposal costs could jump over time, Marion is locked-in. “Doing it now, I think it’s huge.”

            McGrail said the CMWRRDD did not receive a bid from Covanta more beneficial than Marion’s and, in fact, Marion’s negotiations actually led to a better deal for the CMWRRDD, McGrail claimed.

            In other business, the board approved awarding Methuen Construction for the $6,370,198 wastewater treatment plant and lagoon improvements contract.

            The board approved the job description for the new position of assistant director of the Department of Public Works.

            McGrail was given authorization to submit the preservation restriction for the Town House to the Massachusetts Historical Commission for review and approval.

            McGrail will now begin the Request for Proposal (RFP) process to solicit bids for the sale of the Atlantis Drive building.

            The Board of Assessors’ yearly tax rate classification hearing with the board was continued until November.

            The next meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen is scheduled for November 19 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Town House.

Marion Board of Selectmen

By Jean Perry

            Director of Student Services Michael Nelson, the head of the Special Education Department, was appointed to the new position of assistant superintendent of teaching, learning, and student services on October 23 during the joint meeting of the Old Rochester Regional School Committee and Superintendency Union #55.

            Nelson will assume the vacancy left by Elise Frangos, the retired assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

            The appointment was swiftly approved by the ORR School Committee, but was met with some opposition on the Superintendency Union side.

            Rochester School Committee member Anne Fernandes asserted that the joint committees had agreed last year that school administrators would assume the professional development aspect of Frangos’ position temporarily so that the assistant superintendent position could eventually be filled by whoever is appointed as the new superintendent.

            “This is not about Mr. Nelson,” said Fernandes. “Mr. Nelson is top notch. It’s about the process that we had put into place months ago.

            “I think the process should remain as it was stated the first time around and that the new superintendent do his or her own choosing,” she said. “I think we should stick to the original plan.”

            Fernandes said she preferred the addition of the term “interim” in the motion to appoint Nelson to the assistant superintendent position, to which Superintendency Union and Rochester School Committee Chairman Sharon Hartley agreed.

            “I would add that [Superintendent Doug White] had strongly stated to us… that we wait and allow the next superintendent to make the decision about an assistant superintendent,” said Hartley.

            Fernandes thought that making the position temporary “shows respect for the long and hard work that we made to creating the plan.”

            Nonetheless, both the ORR School Committee and the Superintendency Union voted in favor of appointing Nelson, 7-0 and 5-3, respectively.

            “I appreciate the support of the committee and the superintendent and my colleagues,” said Nelson, “and I will continue to serve the district to the best of my ability moving forward, so thank you very much.”

            The next joint meeting of the Old Rochester Regional School Committee and Superintendency Union #55 is scheduled for December 12 at 6:30 pm in the ORR Junior High School media room.

Joint Meeting of the School Committees

By Jean Perry