Getting down to the nitty-gritty of the FY25 budget season, Marion Town Administrator Geoff Gorman told the Select Board at its meeting Tuesday night that he asked Department of Public Works Director Becky Tilden to “reprioritize” the DPW’s capital-projects wish list with an eye on “what do they really want to get done.”
While American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds don’t expire until December 31, Plymouth County, the administrator of those funds on an opt-in basis (Marion opted in as it had with CARES Act funding), required applications on a more immediate deadline.
Citing the limit of money available in Water and Sewer Enterprise accounts ($388,000), Gorman had to innovate, and what he discovered was that ARPA funding can be appropriated to fund Water/Sewer capital projects. Better yet, he reported to the board that the county had approved his request to keep the ARPA-funding application general so long as it remains committed to Water/Sewer capital projects. With Infiltration/Inflow (I/I) funding in place in the amount of $200,000, Marion would get a $980,000 total boost toward its Water/Sewer capital projects for FY25.
Other affected capital projects include $64,000 for the Creek Road pumping station, $675,000 for two generators and $100,000 for the Island Wharf water main. There is $750,000 available from Water Enterprise retained earnings.
Gorman also discussed four items (with asterisks): Town House security, digital radios and a brush truck. In 1960, the Marion Fire Department bought a new brush truck that is no longer operational. Fire Chief Brian Jackvony has secured a $280,000 grant against a $349,000 replacement, leaving a total of $72,789 that would come out of capital expenditures to complete the purchase.
The lingering question is how to fund a much-needed patrol boat for the Harbormaster. Gorman said that Marion can buy the boat using free cash but noted the townspeople’s expectation that it would be funded by the Waterways Enterprise Account. With the patrol boat in the FY25 budget and without including FY25 revenue, $450,000 will remain in the Waterways Account after FY25.
Gorman said he was told by Finance Director Heather O’Brien that an $800,000 boat would come with a debt exclusion.
Select Board member Randy Parker said he “doesn’t want to spend all that free cash” and would like to sit down to discuss the matter. “I want to leave a little cushion. The (Marine Resources Commission), I’d like them to have a look at this too.”
Select Board Chairman Toby Burr abstained from participation in a public hearing in which Hills and Parker granted Island Wharf Road, LLC, an Amended License in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 148 of Massachusetts General Laws to store flammables, combustibles or explosives at Barden’s Boat Yard, 2 Island Wharf Road.
Cheryl Souza, a member of the town’s MRC, represented Barden’s and told the board that nothing is changing at the site. The problem, she explained, was a long-expired license that had not been renewed since 1953 and became a sticking point to the current permitting effort. The above-ground tanks on the site were installed in 1996 and 2007.
“There’s nothing new there that wasn’t there since I can remember,” said Parker, who visited the site.
A continued public hearing for the installation of a utility pole by NSTAR Electric Company, doing business as Eversource Energy, was focused Tuesday on the installation of 44 feet of conduit and two handholes on Front Street.
Representing Eversource, Faye Sweatman was back before the board but again faced questions from Parker, who wanted to see the installation of two extra conduits, so in the event another upgrade is needed, the finished road can remain undisturbed.
Gorman said he can work with Sweatman to coordinate with the contractor and electrician and reach out to Verizon regarding its interest. Parker was confident the contractor would be willing but noted that coordination can be difficult.
“I don’t want to dig the road up again,” he said.
Upon board member Norm Hills’ motion, NSTAR’s installation was approved on the condition that spare conduit be added for future needs.
Under Acton Items, Harbormaster Adam Murphy and Animal Control Officer Susan Connors were reappointed as Inspectors of Animals.
The Benson Brook Boutique Swap Shop Rules and Regulations was discussed following the board’s initial read. Gorman said he has already received some comments but looks forward to the Select Board’s comments at its next meeting. A second read will consist of a discussion and possible vote. Parker suggested posting the document on the town’s website to encourage public feedback.
The board also conducted a first read on Music Hall fee increases, the main feature of which will make users of the facility responsible for cleaning and any damage. A two-hour fee, for instance, would see a $150 surcharge should the town determine a professional cleaning is necessary. Parker suggested a discount for Marion residents. Hills noted that nonprofit organizations receive a 50% discount on its rentals of the Music Hall.
The board engaged in a second read over the brand-new Water & Sewer Abatement Policy. The next step will be a public discussion and feedback. The matter will also go to Town Counsel.
Gorman sought to postpone the Harbormaster building’s easement with Eversource because the town is waiting on the engineering drawing. Parker noted that the ground-mounted transformer has been relocated from behind the pavilion up to within 25 feet of the road to get it out of the flood zone.
Two road closures were approved.
The Memorial Day Remembrances and Procession will be held on Monday, May 27. Beginning at 8:15 am, Cottage Street will be closed between School Street and Front Street, and Front Street from Island Wharf Road to Old Landing Veterans Park (8:30 am until the event has ended).
The Marion Art Center’s Annual Arts in the Park event will be held on Saturday, July 6 (rain date July 7); Main Street will be closed between Spring Street and Pleasant Street from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
In his Town Administrator’s Report, Gorman said the pillars are complete on the new Harbormaster building and that framing is getting underway this month and the building should be weather-tight sometime in April.
Bid documents are completed for the new Department of Public Works operational center at Benson Brook. Subcontractor bids are to be reviewed on March 20, and Gorman is working with the town’s public-relations person to get information out to the community.
Design on the Delano Road project in which the Buzzards Bay Coalition has received grant funding for wetland remediation, will focus on two culverts. One is a coastal culvert just north of Great Hill Drive and the other a culvert supporting Wings Cove. Gorman says the work will take approximately a month. Hills anticipates that a road closure will become necessary.
The draft for the Annual Town Meeting on Monday, May 13, at 6:45 pm at Sippican Elementary School needs to be ready on March 25, said Gorman, so the Finance Committee can see it on March 27 and the Select Board can approve it at its April 2 meeting. An informational warrant meeting, in recent years billed as a Town Meeting rehearsal, will be held on April 25 at the Music Hall.
Gorman told the board he is working on a response document to MassDEP’s consideration of regulations revisions and water-quality circulation. The state has extended the comment period to April 30. Gorman reported that other towns are similarly concerned.
Gorman also summarized a highly successful list of four recommendations coming from the town’s Community Preservation Committee for several town-sponsored projects.
CPA funds will be used for the engineering and design of a new parking lot at Silvershell Beach, a right-of-way easement for the shared-use (bike) path and for engineering and design of a renovation of the Bird Island Lighthouse. The lighthouse has not been fully renovated since 1997. It is listed on the National Historical Registry of Historic Places.
Gorman also noted that while it was learned that CPA funding cannot be used for the digitization of town records, that project will be grant funded. After Watertown digitized its records, said Gorman, the city got rid of 20 tons of paper.
The next meeting of the Marion Select Board is scheduled for Tuesday, April 2, at 6:00 pm at the Town House Annex building.
Marion Select Board
By Mick Colageo