Another year has passed and everything in Tri-Town – the streets, the houses, the historic landmarks, trees, and the residents – is another year older. On the personal level, our year ultimately unfolded in uniquely different ways from one another’s, making for a 2019 that is as individual as we each are.
Then there is the collective year we share as a community – which, again, is unique to each of the three towns given how distinctively different Marion, Mattapoisett, and Rochester are from each other. But, as a Tri-Town, inextricably linked by its common history originating from the one Old Rochester, there is another level of a shared collective experience.
At the end of every year, we review every edition of The Wanderer to revisit the last 12 months and recall the events that defined a year. Having said that, Tri-Town: behold your 2019…
Marion
“Marion Designated as Green Community”: Marion entered the New Year a little greener and with $132,672 more in funds to pursue further energy-saving endeavors.
“Developer Sues Over Solar Farm Denial”: The denial of a solar farm at 78 Wareham Road in 2018 came back to haunt the Planning Board for the first half of 2019 after solar developer ZPT Energy Solutions LLC filed a complaint with the Land Court.
Marion’s solar bylaw gave no clear definition to the phrase “large-scale” when it comes to the clear-cutting of trees. ZPT’s argued the clear-cutting of 86 percent of the land did not constitute large-scale. That suit was later dropped, which segues us to our next headline:
“Solar Farm denial Clears the Way for Second 40B”: Developer Ken Steen seized on the opportunity to take 78 Wareham Road and create a second 40B community in Marion, a project that is nearing completion in the state permitting process and is slated to enter the local permitting process in 2020.
“Capital Project Faces Potential $1 Million Shortfall”: Marion faced some tough financial challenges this year: first with its engineer, CDM Smith, announcing a significant shortfall in the financing of the estimated $2.5 million wastewater lagoon project to the tune of $1,135,000. That estimated shortfall turned out to be way off once bids came in for the project. The lowest bid came in at $4,668,000, which was double CDM Smith’s shortfall estimate.
To say the selectmen were displeased would be an understatement. During a February 19, the board signed a strongly-worded letter to the engineering firm, and then later went face to face with reps from CDM Smith with its displeasure while the engineers apologized.
“Town Stuck with Failing Trash Truck”: For the first half of 2019, Marion scurried to find a solution to its curbside trash truck that seemed like it was always breaking down and costing the town tens of thousands in futile repairs. The town was faced with very few options as the certainty of the future of its regionalized trash district hung in limbo: keep slogging by with an aging truck, buy a new truck, or just pay someone else with their own trucks to haul the town’s trash away. Town Meeting voters opted for option 3, and eventually signed on with Waste Management. After a slow start, the social media outrage of residents finally seems to be dying down as we enter 2020.
“Town Clerk Indicted on Criminal Larceny Charges”: After the Carver, Marion, Wareham Regional Refuse Disposal District filed a civil suit against its former executive director Ray Pickles, who also served as the town clerk until his resignation on September 3, it was only a matter of time before criminal charges followed. Pickles was indicted by a grand jury in March on six counts of Grand Larceny. Pickles pleaded ‘not guilty’.
The sad end to Pickles’ ordeal comes with another headline in this edition of The Wanderer: “Indicted Refuse Director Ray Pickles Dies”.
“TA Postpones Retirement as Finalists Drop Out”: He was supposed to be out of there by March 15, but Town Administrator Paul Dawson stuck it out long enough for the selectmen to appoint his successor after the two finalists both dropped out of the running right before their final interviews in March.
Selectmen picked James “Jay” McGrail in April while Dawson assisted him until McGrail’s first official day on the job: the May 13 Annual Town Meeting.
“Marion Moves to Dispose of Regional Trash District”: With a bleak future for the CMWRRDD, Marion started planning its ‘Mexit’ for 2020 by asking Special Town Meeting voters in October to allow that process to proceed. Voters agreed it was the right thing to do. Marion is in negotiations with the CMWRRDD over Mexit conditions.
“Recreational Cannabis Proposal Presented”: Will this be the newest headline hot topic for Marion in 2020? A group of entrepreneurs attended the Board of Selectmen’s final meeting of 2019 with a proposal for a recreational adult-use marijuana dispensary at the site of the former Christie’s on Route 6.
Mattapoisett
“Engineering Begins for New Fire House”: The Town chose its engineer in January to construct the new fire station and the associated work for the new site on Route 6 beside the police station. Voters approved a $9.25 million debt exclusion, and the town hopes to break ground in March of 2020.
“Gagne Announces Retirement”: Town Administrator Michael Gagne announced on February 26 that he would be retiring on October 15, 2019. Unfortunately for Gagne, he’ll still be the Mattapoisett town administrator when the clock hits midnight on New Year’s Eve and into the second month of 2020, when the town will finally select his replacement.
The first round of resumes proved unsuccessful for the search committee, which ultimately had to hire an experienced municipal recruiter to help the town secure some quality candidates, which leads us to our next headline:
“Macallister Resigns, Applies for Town Administrator Job”: This one is pretty self-explanatory, although he, like everyone else, will have to go through the hiring process led by the same consultant that assisted Marion in its search for a new TA, Bernie Lynch.
“Marijuana Cultivation Proposed for Mattapoisett”: Two business partners went before the Planning Board in March seeking to establish a marijuana growing facility on Industrial Drive. The business proposal included a clause for wholesale sales.
The cultivation and commercial sale of recreational adult-use cannabis-containing products is prohibited in Mattapoisett, so Gagne stated that the bylaw would have to be amended. Voters at the May 13 Annual Town Meeting rejected an article to allow recreational marijuana, and then again rejected the notion during a Special Town Meeting on November 4 to allow the cultivation of recreational marijuana.
“Groundbreaking Marks Start of Bike Path Project”: Dozens arrived at the end of Reservation Road on April 25 to witness the ceremonial groundbreaking of Phase 1B of the Mattapoisett Bike Path, which adds an additional 1.28 miles to the existing bike path.
The headline “Solar Array Planned for Bowman Road” from the August 26 Conservation Commission meeting looked promising for solar developer NextGrid, LLC, especially after it received the commission’s approval to move forward. But after a Zoning Board of Appeals denial on November 21, the most current headline from December is “Solar Developer Sues Mattapoisett ZBA Over Denial”.
Rochester
“Rumors Prompt Info Session on Pending 40R Housing”: Rochester started the year 2019 with a new word in its local lexicon: 40R.
Referred to as a “friendly 40B,” resident concerns (and subsequent rumors) about an overwhelming influx in population led to a public info session on January 3, 2019, when public officials and citizens were introduced to developer Ken Steen and his plan for a 208-unit residential development on Cranberry Highway.
The 40R is different from a 40B in that the town, in addition to being included in the planning process throughout permitting, is eligible to receive funding to reimburse the town for increasing demands on municipal services such as police and fire and schools.
The development will include affordable housing, which will put Rochester above the state-mandated 10 percent affordable housing minimum, a deterrent for any potential 40B developments.
As 2019 came to a close, Steen presented his project to the Conservation Commission at its final meeting of the year, and he expects to officially file with the Planning Board within the first few weeks of 2020.
“Solar to Replace Appealed Farmers Market Project”: Instead of a farmer’s market and café on a piece of Craig Canning’s massive swath of agricultural land on Marion Road, Rochester found itself having to welcome another solar farm into the neighborhood.
A contentious appeal process with a resistant abutter cast a permanent shadow on Canning’s first project, prompting him to look to the sun to brighten his economic horizon.
After many months, the 4-megawatt solar array farm received final approval before tearing the final page from the 2019 calendar.
“’Prize Patrol’ Surprises Local Sweepstakes Winner”: 2019 was unforgettable for Rochester resident John Hall who experienced what we would all love to have happen to us one day – opening the door to a camera crew behind a smiling well-dressed man holding out a giant $50,000 check written in your name. Yes, it’s true – it does sometimes pay to enter into the Publisher’s Clearing House sweepstakes. Just ask John Hall!
“Weigel Sworn-in as First Full-time Fore Chief”: Rochester continues to grow, which is why Fire Chief Scott Weigel officially went from part-time status to full-time on May 6. He was sworn-in by the town clerk during a Board of Selectmen meeting and then escorted off to celebrate with the sirens and lights of accompanying fire trucks.
“Massive Solar Farms in Rochester Pipeline”: To the dismay of many Rochester residents, it looks like 2020 will be another productive year for solar energy proliferation.
Planning Board Chairman Arnie Johnson explained on December 9 that 60 of 100 acres will be clear-cut to make way for a 10-megawatt solar farm, a project that is slated as number one of five that are in the works for 2020.
The five large-scale solar farms will be almost completely contiguous across hundreds of acres spanning along Braley Hill Road from Tabor Lane to Featherbed Lane and all the way across to Snipatuit Road abutting Trailside Estates.
The Tri-Town
“EEE Threat Incites Concern, Spraying“: The critical risk of Eastern Equine Encephalitis affected us all during the second half of the summer of 2019 and throughout the fall until that first major frost. The EEE threat canceled some of the highlighting annual summer events, such as the Marion Town Party and the evening events at the Rochester Country Fair, which was shortened considerably.
The first human case of EEE was in Rochester in early August, which heightened the awareness and severity of the EEE situation for the Tri-Town, particularly.
The EEE prognosis for 2020 isn’t looking any better, either, so we should expect some similar occurrences and upsets this summer – but hopefully without any further victims.
“Selectmen Ready to Talk T.U.R.F.”: The T.U.R.F. ORR athletic field upgrade project conversation was reignited early in 2019, well ahead of the three town meetings. The project garnered minimal support from the finance committees, boards of selectmen, and town administrators from each of the towns, but a downscaled version of the project that included new stage lighting for the auditorium won the support of the town meeting voters in Marion, Mattapoisett, and Rochester. The prospect of the project coming to fruition seemed within reach when Mattapoisett and Marion voters at the polls threw their support behind the project; alas, Rochester voters rejected the project during their July 10 special election in a 575-689 vote.
The superintendent for the four Tri-Town school districts announced that this would be his final school year before he retires in June of 2020. The school committees have united to get the process of finding a new superintendent going with a timeline that will hopefully result in a final candidate come March.
“Tri-Town Teen Nicotine Withdrawal Prompts Concern”: Teen electronic cigarette use increased everywhere in the country, including in the Tri-Town. But when suspected vaping-induced lung diseases started to go up, Governor Charlie Baker responded by banning all e-cigarette and vaping products in the state. Marion Public Health Nurse Kathleen Downey sounded the alarm about teen nicotine withdrawal happening in the region after she said parents had started calling her with their own concerns about kids and nicotine withdrawal in light of the diminished supply of vape products.
The e-cigarette ban persists into 2020, although some regulated THC-containing vape product sales have been allowed to resume.
By Jean Perry