In the June 16 conclusion of a continued public hearing, the Marion Board of Selectmen voted to award Fieldstone Farm Market one of the town’s five licenses with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (ABCC) for the retail sale of beer and wine. There was no feedback from last week’s discussion in public hearing. The owner, Arnie Johnson, attended the public hearing, received congratulations from the selectmen, and thanked the town.
In the event that, for any reason, Town Meeting cannot be held as scheduled (on Monday, June 22), the Board of Selectmen approved a 1/12 budget of $5,259,238 for July 2020, which will be submitted to the state Department of Revenue as soon as possible.
Chief of Police John Garcia attended the meeting to request approval of student officer Peter Bourgeault to a one-year probationary period as a full-time police officer.
Bourgeault is almost finished with his work at the academy. He would have attended the meeting but was attending class, explained Garcia. Graduation at the academy, originally scheduled for June 5, was delayed by COVID-19 to June 19 so Garcia’s request officially asked that Bourgeault be appointed effective June 19. The board approved the appointment, and Selectman Norm Hills asked the chief to convey the board’s congratulations.
Garcia said that, because Bourgeault will be deprived the regular graduation ceremony with the academy, Marion will hold a private ceremony of its own, limited in number by COVID-19-related restrictions. At 2:30 pm Friday, June 19, a small, private ceremony will include a formal swearing-in of Bourgeault complete with the ceremonial pinning of his badge.
In his Town Administrator’s report, McGrail with assistance from Town Planner Gil Hilario, procured a $25,000 state grant with no matching funds required for the purpose of an overview of the town’s human resources practices.
As of Monday, Marion has reopened all municipal buildings except the Public Library, Natural History Museum, and Community Center. McGrail reported no issues. “Everyone’s done a nice job with the masks,” he said. “I appreciate the public’s support… It took us a long time to get to where we are today.”
The town was ready to sign a purchase-and-sale agreement to sell its property at Atlantis Drive in a transaction scheduled for June 17. McGrail said he was waiting to hear back from the only leased tenant, citing a termination clause in the lease that he needs to follow. Once Marion hits the $500,000 threshold, the town has the right to walk away from the sale. Three other existing tenants have no lease agreements.
With help from Selectman Norm Hills, McGrail reported having applied for a $300,000 Coastal Zone Management grant – Marion would fund $75,000 from its own coffers – for the design work on a new pumping station at Creek Road. “I’m very optimistic that we will be successful with this grant opportunity,” said McGrail.
The Town Meeting dry run held on Monday was attended by over 60 people, and McGrail reported having received productive follow-ups from citizens. He said that 250 people will fit comfortably at Sippican School, where Town Meeting is scheduled to be held on Monday night, June 22, using two rooms with single chairs and one room with doubles.
This Friday, June 19, the town plans to set up an audio-visual system, then hold a dry run to test out all the technology it is planning to use. “Hopefully we’ll be a in a good place by Monday afternoon and we’ll have a successful town meeting,” said McGrail.
He reported that Town House is 90-something percent complete with its new exterior front. “All that’s really left are the windows,” he said of the project that is expected to take a month to complete. He reported that the Sippican Historical Society’s philanthropy has been a key element in the success of the project.
McGrail, in a second action item, requested the board to extend committee member appointments to July 15, the date of the selectmen’s next scheduled meeting. “I fully recommend these re-appointments,” he said, noting a year having worked with all affected appointees. The board approved extending the appointments from June 30 to July 15.
The board also approved the Council on Aging’s request to appoint Helenka Hopkins Nolan to a three-year term, filling an existing vacancy.
The board voted to accept a $1,000 donation from Cathy and Jim Feeney to the Marion Fire and EMS.
The next meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen is scheduled for July 15, when it is anticipated that the board may be able by then to resume meeting in person.
Marion Board of Selectmen
By Mick Colageo