Marion Selectman Jonathan Henry announced on January 5 that he would not be seeking reelection in 2016, saying it was with a heavy heart that he informed the residents of Marion of his decision.
Henry, who has served 12 years on the Board of Selectmen, said his departure was entirely positive, and he encouraged others that may be inclined to do so to run for his seat on the board.
“It was a difficult decision,” he said, but after four terms on the board and a 70th birthday just this past New Year’s Day, Henry said it was time to move on to enjoy “whatever time allocated to me from the great beyond.”
Henry thanked the citizens of Marion for having given him the chance to serve for so long, and he thanked his fellow selectmen for working so well together with him. However, he added, “I’m not going away, so don’t think you’re getting rid of me.”
“I certainly have enjoyed my seven years [with you],” said Board of Selectmen Chairman Stephen Cushing.
Selectman Jody Dickerson told Henry, “We might not always agree, but we’ve been complete gentlemen.”
Also during the meeting, the board appointed Adam Murphy as full-time assistant harbormaster/shellfish officer to assist recently promoted Harbormaster Isaac Perry.
Before the appointment of assistant harbormaster/shellfish officer, Police Chief Lincoln Miller asked the selectmen for a technical appointment to appoint Murphy as a special officer to serve in official police capacity on the waterfront for Murphy’s position as the shellfish officer.
The chief said Murphy would strictly be working as an officer of the waterfront but, under certain emergency circumstances, Murphy could be asked to assist the Marion Police; however, Miller stated this would be a rare event and it would not interfere with Murphy’s duties on the water.
“This gives the harbormaster more law enforcement powers,” said Miller. Murphy, he said, has received all the required training and exams to serve in official police capacity.
The selectmen then appointed Murphy as AHM/Shellfish Officer, pending successful contract negotiations.
Perry said Murphy holds all the state required certifications of shellfish officer as well as full-time harbormaster.
In other matters, the director of the Elizabeth Taber Library requested that the selectmen vote to designate parking spaces along Spring Street for library use only.
Chief Miller told selectmen he was never a fan of restricting parking, especially in the village area because, once it is done, it is done. He suggested holding off on a vote until he could contact Sippican School and surrounding businesses that may have employees parking their vehicles in front of the library for extended periods of time.
“At this point, I would just like to hold off and maybe we can alleviate the situation,” Miller said.
In other business, the board approved the aquaculture license for Douglas Thackeray, a hearing that was continued from December.
Cushing said he had visited the site and, with the recommendation from harbormaster, the board approved the license, which allows Thackeray to proceed with applying to acquire the relative permits he needs before final approval.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen will be January 19 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Town House. However, the selectmen will hold a special meeting on Friday, January 8, at 8:15 am at the Marion Town House for the sole purpose of meeting with Planning Board Chairman Robert Lane and board member Rico Ferrari to ratify a contract for a new part-time town planner and discuss a grant opportunity that may fund a feasibility study pertaining to a wastewater connection with Wareham and other surrounding towns.
By Jean Perry
