About two years after first pursuing a permit to operate a one-half acre oyster farm business at Job’s Cove, Chris and Benjamin Bryant of Greenport Consulting finally received the Marion Board of Selectmen’s stamp of approval to proceed.
The Mektukquaamsett Improvement Association, a group of homeowners from the Jobs Cove area, had contested the proposed aquaculture business but the MA Department of Environmental Protection had officially backed the project. The association took the case to the MA DEP Office of Appeals and Dispute Resolution, arguing that the operation was on too large of a site and adversely impact the endangered Diamondback Terrapin.
The office of appeals, however, sided with the applicants last summer and denied a request to reconsider the matter. With all of the town permits obtained from necessary boards, the Selectmen formally endorsed the aquaculture license at their meeting on February 7.
“I feel we are in a mortal room of Dorothy, brought into the room by the Wicked Witch of the West…We completed our task, and completed our permits,” said applicant Chris Bryant.
“We will use a small amount of seed this spring and grow into our site,” the applicant said of the oyster operation, which would use floating bags held by buoys. “We’ve got a good background so I we think we’ll be okay.”
“We got involved into looking at ecologic ways to improve the harbor, it had nothing to do with the paycheck,” he said in general of his aquaculture undertaking.
Selectman Jonathan Henry lauded the Bryants for their persistence in pushing the application through.
“I have to congratulate you for having the stick-to-it-ness to see it through,” he said.
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your support right from the beginning. I’ve had the worst events happen in the past two years, but the town has been outstanding,” said Chris Bryant. “Every one we’ve dealt with has been great to us, if it hadn’t been for that we would have given up.”
In other business at the Selectmen’s meeting, the board voted to assist Baywatch Realty in getting special tax credit financing for their affordable housing project.
The board will submit a letter of support on behalf of Baywatch, but Selectman Roger Blanchette stressed that it is “strictly a financial matter.”
“We are pretty much aware there are a lot of hoops [for Baywatch] to go through: the ZBA, Conservation, and the [MA Department of Environmental Protection]. It doesn’t relate to the other things required,” he said.
The board also approved a three-year contract between towns regarding ORCTV access. Under the new agreement, Town Administrator Paul Dawson assured the Selectmen and public that “the services will remain the same” despite Mattapoisett pulling back one-ninth of the franchise cable fees to do their own government broadcasting.
“It’s been a challenge to keep an agreement in place so all towns get equal benefit. This has gone on for months, the legal wrangling between lawyers,” Mr. Dawson said. “But this is a very good agreement that protects the services the towns have always enjoyed. All towns get equal value out of it. It took a lot of back and forth and wrangling, but I think it is a good solid contract.”
In other business, the Selectmen endorsed a negotiated agreement with Marion town employees effective from July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2014.
“It was a process long, but in the end a good contract for both sides,” said Selectmen Stephan Cushing.
The Town Administrator also reported that the recently formed Town House Study Committee – which is investigating the renovation needs of the building– is underway. Planning Board member Jay Ryder is serving as Chairman.
“The committee is up and going and things are moving along,” he said.
In other business, Mr. Dawson said he has narrowed down applicants for a part-time Grant Administrator for the town to three candidates. The Selectmen will conduct the final interviews at their next meeting.
By Laura Fedak Pedulli