The Marion Rochester United U12 travel soccer team, faces proud and cheerful, sat on one side of the Marion Town House’s conference room as the Board of Selectmen began their meeting on the night of June 21. They had been called for recognition of their win in the girls’ under-12 division of the Cape Cod Challenge Soccer Cup.
“We wanted to congratulate you on your tournament win. We’re very proud of you as a community,” Selectmen Chairman Jody Dickerson said, commending the girls. “We’re proud of what you’ve done.”
To recognize their accomplishment, he asked Head Coach Darren Feeney to stand at the front of the room and call each girl individually to receive a rose. After the last player had received her rose, Feeney thanked the board. “It’s an honor, thank you for recognizing all of the girls. It means a lot to us.”
Chattering happily with roses – and large trophy – in hand, the players made their way out of the conference room, and the selectmen settled down to other town matters.
Town Administrator Paul Dawson gave the board his updates, starting with an update on the electric vehicle grant application that the board had previously approved. “We applied to the Department of Environmental Protection for three electric vehicles, and we’ve already been approved for a grant of $33,000. We’re in the process of sending out the bidding. I wanted to make the board aware that the grant has been approved.”
“I wish all grants moved so quickly,” Dickerson laughed.
“I sent an email, had one question back, and then was approved from there,” Dawson confirmed.
“Well, you’d better frame that grant,” Dickerson replied.
Dawson also announced a new perpetual care fee from the Cemetery Commissioners. “We looked at the current model, and we realized that it’s unsustainable for the future,” he revealed, referring to covering maintenance costs. “We’ve talked about a perpetual care fee. It’s a one-time fee, paid when you buy a lot. The fee is paid into a trust fund, where all the money will sit. The interest from that money will be drawn on to cover regular maintenance fees and minor repair fees.”
Dawson went on to explain that the proposed fee would be $200, and it would take effect July 1.
“Marion has never charged a perpetual care fee,” Dawson noted. “I’ve looked around and it seems like we are the only town which doesn’t include one. But our model is unsustainable. We need to change something.” He had presented the idea to the board hoping that they would approve the new fee, which they did without question.
Marion Affordable Housing Trust Chairman Jennifer Watson also attended the meeting for feedback from the selectmen on potential public transportation in Marion. “We’ve talked about this a lot. We have public transportation in Mattapoisett and in Wareham, but not in Marion.”
With Watson was Marion Council on Aging Director Heather Sylvia. “We’re strongly in favor of public transportation,” she declared. “I have a lot of residents who are still mobile, but can no longer afford a car. On weekends and at certain times, they’re very restricted in what they can do.”
“Would you reach out to SRPEDD [Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District] and have them do a study on Marion and possible public transportation?” Dickerson asked Watson.
“We’d like to,” Watson replied. “We need a letter from the board stating their approval to ask SRPEDD for a bus service study.”
The board approved the letter. Selectman Stephen Gonsalves thought public transportation was a good idea. “I think it’s great,” he stated. “We need it here; there are a lot of people looking to get around.”
The next meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen is scheduled for July 12 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Police Station.
By Andrea Ray
