Town Administrator Paul Dawson told the Marion Board of Selectmen that DPW Superintendent Rob Zora received word from a state agency that the drought status for the region has been changed from a drought ‘advisory’ to a drought ‘watch.’
“That’s a significant increase in the level of drought situation that’s currently ongoing throughout the state,” Dawson said on August 16.
And with no rain in sight for the next week or so, Dawson said the situation could rise further from a Level One water restriction, which the town is currently under, to a Level Two water restriction.
“That would eliminate the morning watering hours of 6:00 to 8:00 am,” said Dawson, while still following the current odd/even numbered house schedule now in place. No watering would be allowed on Sundays.
Dawson said the town would be obligated to observe a Level Two water restriction effective immediately should the state change the status to a Level Two. Water consumers would be notified upon the change in status.
“It may very well become a reality sooner rather than later,” Dawson stated.
Also during the meeting, it was a ‘simple’ request by Kate Ross, owner of a small restaurant/café at 148 Front Street in Marion, which the selectmen granted, but not until hearing the concerns of abutting tenants, namely the president and members of the Sippican Woman’s Club, over noise-related consequences of an entertainment license to allow live music at the restaurant.
Ross told selectmen that she has had a number of suggestions from patrons that she should provide a little live entertainment in the form of an acoustic musician, which Ross said could be a good idea to boost business, especially during the winter months.
“I don’t have anything planned right now … but I would like the option to have some form of entertainment there if need be,” said Ross.
Ross vowed to be respectful of the village residents and tenants and keep with the quiet character of the town.
“I’m not going to have any loud or obnoxious thing going on there,” Ross said. “We’re not a bar room environment. It would just be added entertainment…. I’m not going to have any kind of loud heavy metal type band.”
Selectman Steve Gonsalves said immediately that he found it to be “a tremendous addition and a tremendous idea,” even joking that the selectmen have been secretly forming a fictional band called “The Singing Selectmen” who would enjoy being Ross’ first act.
Sippican Woman’s Club members voiced concerns over noise at night, especially for tenants who live in apartments above the Woman’s Club, worried about the seeming “open-endedness” of Ross’ request.
“I envision having someone with a guitar or a vocalist sitting in the corner and that’s the extent of it,” said Ross.
Selectman Chairman Jody Dickerson commented that he had already spoken with one of the tenants next to the café, who said they had no problem with the idea of allowing live entertainment and that they have never experienced problems with noise or any complaints with Ross’ café in the past.
“I would go along with it,” said Sippican Woman’s Club President Sue Granger, “as long as it’s not an open-ended thing.”
Ross replied, “It’s important to me as a member of this community to run a successful business that fills the needs and wants of the community…. You have my word that I would come to you … as your neighbor, as your friend…. I don’t want to ruin any of that … I’m not looking to cause problems.”
Gonsalves suggested the entertainment license allow acoustic music, with no amplifiers allowed, on Wednesdays and Thursdays until 9:00 pm and until no later than 10:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
Ross would have to reapply each year on December 31 to renew her license, which reassured Sippican Woman’s Club members.
The public hearing for an aquaculture farm for Shea Doonan was continued at the applicant’s request until September 20.
The next meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen is scheduled for September 20 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Town House.
By Jean Perry
