Casey Barros and Dick Giberti of the Capital Improvements Planning Committee presented Tuesday night to the Marion Select Board, working off of CIPC Chairman Paul Naiman’s letter on the committee’s FY24 project rankings and 10-year plan.
As Giberti explained, the CIPC confines its interest to projects costing at least $10,000 with a useful life of at least five years. The committee, made up of Barros, Giberti, Naiman, Steve Nojeim, Dave Janik, Finance Committee Representative Bill Marvel and Select Board Representative Randy Parker, interviews all department heads making capital requests, exhaustively scrutinizing each department’s pitch with an end game to provide the Finance Committee and Select Board credible results borne of legwork, research and deliberation.
Ability to fund projects plays a role in the CIPC’s rankings.
This year, the CIPC divided its FY24 rankings into two categories: requests related to the Department of Public Works and those that are not DPW-related. The reason for the division, explained Barros, is funding scores will be higher across the board for DPW requests due to enterprise funding. If combined into one rankings list, “the others fall by the wayside,” he said.
Interim Town Administrator Judy Mooney told the CIPC representatives that the town will see how much funding it can dedicate toward the projects. “All these sewer projects cannot be funded, I know that right off the bat,” said Mooney. “Based on your rankings, where does the money stop? That’s it.”
Some enterprise funding must be used for sewer betterments so it cannot be used for capital projects.
“This team does a super job,” said Parker.
Thirty projects totaling $3,700,000 were submitted by town department heads and the ORR School District. Fourteen were submitted by the DPW for almost $1,300,000, 16 more totaling $2,600,000 were submitted by the Police, Facilities, Schools and the Council on Aging.
Funding for all 30 capital projects would come from: General Fund $1,125,000, Sewer Enterprise Fund $740,000, Water Enterprise Fund $287,000, Mariner Enterprise Fund none and Debt $1,600,000.
A notable slider down the rankings ladder is a Fire/EMS Ladder Truck listed at $1,600,000 (though Parker said that number is now down to $1,000,000.) In examining pros and cons of buying used versus new, Barros noted that all fire trucks built from 2012 to 2019 “are deficient” as in prone to rotting out due to a stainless-steel component.
The Ladder Truck would require Marion taking on more debt that would affect the tax rate. The CIPC’s recommendation is that the Finance Committee and Select Board consider grant funding and used equipment.
A large swell of supporters packed into the Police Station conference room for a public hearing that ended in enthusiastic applause when the Select Board voted to grant Cast, the new restaurant at 7 Cottage Street, an on-premise, all-alcohol beverages license.
The owner, Bree Swierkowski, owns and operates Ella’s Italian Restaurant on the Cranberry Highway in Wareham. “I love the history of the building and everything it represents. We’ve done a lot of research and plan on honoring the history of that building,” she said.
During public comment, Cottage Street abutters Martha Woodward and Ann Ziegler articulated concerns about noise and street parking.
Swierkowski assured them that the bar will be inside only, and there will be no new seating beyond 8:00 pm in order to comply with the 9:30 pm expiration of the license. She also said a sign will greet patrons asking for them to be respectful to the neighborhood.
Select Board member Norm Hills explained that no one can limit public street parking. “It’s free for whoever shows up,” he said.
Ziegler asked the town to consider a faux speed bump, at which point Mooney and Parker noted in stereo that Marion is amidst a program to lower speed limits throughout town-controlled roadways.
“We’re excited to have the owners of Ella’s come to Marion. They’re upstanding people. I think this is a win-win,” said resident Margie Baldwin. “I understand the abutters’ concerns, but we can’t legislate parking. I applaud the fact they’re coming to town.”
Holmes Street resident Jack Gierhart commented on the positive side of bringing people into town. “This would add an incredible amount to the community,” he said.
In a relatively brief public hearing, the board voted to approve installation of a new Verizon/Eversource utility pole and anchor at the side of 2 Teel Street.
The board voted to remove the interim tag and officially appoint long-time town employee Becky Tilden as the DPW director.
The board publicly acknowledged Jon Witten’s letter of resignation as Marion’s lead legal counsel after 20 years representing the town. Witten will remain in the role of special counsel to bring closure to a couple of lingering matters and wrote that he will work with KP Law, Gorman and Mooney.
Mooney indicated that KP Law’s Tim Zessin will take on the role of Marion’s lead counsel. Parker said that Amy Kwesell is also “very good.”
Parker’s main concern is immediate accessibility, something he says the town had with Witten, even on weekends.
Board of Assessors Chairman TJ Walker noted that the Town of Rochester is also losing its lead counsel (Blair Bailey) and that Marion should take a look at that town’s decision to go with a New Bedford-based firm. Marion is under contract with KP Law through June.
In her Town Administrator’s Report, Mooney noted Geoff Gorman’s hire as new town administrator. Gorman will start March 1.
In other business, the board voted to: approve the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission Annual Report for 2022; the appointment of Carl McDermott III as special officer, per request of Police Chief Richard Nighelli; approve Mooney as the certifying authority to file and authority to file final loan documents for the State Revolving Fund/Massachusetts Water Pollution Abatement Trust; approve Tabor Academy’s request for a Common Victualler License for the new Travis Roy Campus Center; accept Mallory Waterman’s resignation from the Historical District Study Committee and appoint Jill Pitman as her replacement; approve a $194.78 abatement at 9 Shellheap Road; deny an abatement request at 929 Point Road and approve a Water/Sewer commitment of $669.72 (final readings January 18.)
The town’s Building Committee will meet Monday, February 13, at 4:00 pm to receive cost updates on the new DPW operations center construction from lead designer Will Saltonstall.
The Stewards of Community Open Space will hold a public meeting on Thursday, February 16, at 7:00 pm at the Music Hall.
The next meeting of the Marion Select Board is scheduled for Wednesday, February 22, at 6:00 pm.
Marion Select Board
By Mick Colageo