The Marion Board of Selectmen on September 20 reviewed some options for sidewalk improvements under Phase 1D of the village infrastructure project with Department of Public Work Superintended Dave Willet, and ultimately asked him to look into some additional options that could make Marion more pedestrian friendly.
Under the Complete Streets Program that provides funding for multi-modal road projects to eligible cities and towns, Willet said applying for funding for some of the smaller projects included in the village infrastructure plan would benefit the town and reduce the need to withdraw from its Chapter 90 funding.
Willet suggested repairing 1,000 feet of sidewalk at two locations on Front Street. The cost is roughly $100,000 per 500 feet, he told the selectmen, of which $75,000 would be paid by the state. Marion would need to contribute $25,000 per 500 feet.
The town is allowed to apply for funding up to $400,000, said Town Administrator Jay McGrail, “But what we’re choosing to do is to not go heavy this year on our application.” He concurred with Willet’s recommended 1,000 feet of five-foot-wide sidewalk with curbing.
The next part of the village infrastructure plan the town will tackle with be Phase 1B, which is already 90 percent-complete in the design stage. The selectmen gave Willet the OK to authorize the engineer to finish the remaining 10 percent of the design.
Engineer CDM Smith initially estimated the entire village project would cost $4.6 million, but over time that cost has risen to $5.7 million. Due to wastewater treatment plant issues, the village infrastructure upgrades were put on hold.
Willet also gave an overview of the new work order system he implemented several months ago as a way of keeping track of employees’ work duties.
“I wanted to try to get a flavor, really, for what the… current operating staff was doing out on the field on an hourly basis so I could get them [the] proper equipment,” said Willet. The ensuing data has allowed Willet to track the different categories of work and how often staff is called to different work areas. “A lot of their time is being allocated to splitting time to support other departments,” said Willet, rather than the work they are to routinely perform.
McGrail said the topic would reappear on the agenda in the coming months as the town enters budget season.
Also during the meeting, the board closed the warrant and reviewed without discussion the 22 articles slated for the October 21 Fall Special Town Meeting, with half of them related solely to bylaw amendments from the Planning Board.
The first 10 of those articles, however, will be presented by the selectmen on Town Meeting floor, starting with a request for $25,000 to fund a feasibility study for a new harbormaster building at 1 Island Wharf Road, which the Finance Committee recommends.
Article 2 authorizes the board to sell the town-owned Atlantis Drive facility, another FinCom-approved article. In fact, the Finance Committee approved all eight of the finance-related articles voters will find on their town meeting warrants.
Article 3 asks for $28,800 to supplement Article 20 of the 2018 Annual Town Meeting to install epoxy floors at the Spring Street fire station. The funds would be taken from unspent money that was appropriated at the Annual Town Meeting in 2016.
Article 4 is a request to reallocate $44,573 in funds from a 2014 Town Meeting appropriation, $9,676 from a 2016 Town Meeting appropriation, $10,798 from 2017 Town Meeting, and $24,099 from 2017 in order to fund a new fire tanker truck.
Article 5 is a request for $30,400 for the design of an emergency access way to connect Sippican School to Route 6.
Article 6 seeks to impose a six percent local excise tax on short-term rentals like Airbnbs, hotels, bed & breakfasts, and lodging houses.
Article 7 would impose a three percent community impact fee on those short-term rentals, and Article 8 would impose a three percent community impact fee on short-term rentals in multi-family buildings.
Article 9 would authorize the town administrator to begin the process for Marion to withdraw from the Carver, Marion, Wareham Regional refuse Disposal District.
Article 10 would rezone three parcels located off Front Street from Residence A and C to General Business.
In other matters, Phil Sanborn appeared on behalf of the Marion Music Hall Committee to request $24,070 to install a new soundboard to accompany the piano restoration. The funds will be withdrawn for the Music Hall Advisory Fund.
The board authorized McGrail to seek a quote from the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association for potential membership. The hope is to avoid future insurance cost increases. Currently, town employees are enrolled in the Gateway Health Group.
The board appointed Dale Jones to the Marion Water Committee, and appointed Jon Henry to the Affordable Housing Trust.
The selectmen signed a letter endorsing the Master Plan.
The next meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen is scheduled for October 1 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Town House.
Marion Board of Selectmen
By Jean Perry