The Fees Are Coming, the Fees Are Coming

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On October 17, the Rochester Conservation Commission resumed discussion and debate regarding the establishment of fees for filings.

Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon distributed a spreadsheet and other supporting documentation that detailed what other cities and towns charge for filings such as Determination of Acceptability applications and Notices of Intent.

Unlike surrounding communities, Rochester had not instituted a filing fee structure, until now. The commission also considered further ‘after-the-fact’ filing fees as a penalty for performing activities in jurisdictional areas without prior approval.

Commission member Daniel Gagne suggested a step system for Notice of Intent filings that included six categories each with a fee. Those categories are: site work only, homes, commercial, wetland crossings, docks and piers, and wetland delineations.

Fees would run around $100 for each category.

The commissioners reasoned that these types of filings are complex, requiring more assistance from the conservation office and therefore should carry a heftier fee. Gagne said that the categories noted are recognized by the Department of Environmental Protection.

For Requests of Determination of Applicability, a flat fee of $50 was settled on by the commissioners, with a doubling of that fee for after-the-fact filings.

Timing for implementation of fees will follow after discussions have concluded.

In other business, Ryan Motta’s RDA filing received a Negative Determination. Motta’s property is located at 229 Neck Road, the site of a former farm. Motta plans to return some portions of his property to farming activities and sought permission to clear land up to a 25-foot No Disturb Zone for raising alpacas, pasture lands, and blueberry cultivation.

The commissioners are unanimously pleased that former farmland was being returned to this historic endeavor.

Also coming before the commission was Bruce Ouellette, 245 Hartley Road, for a septic upgrade. The project was swiftly approved, with Farinon commenting, “We love septic repair projects, especially near cranberry bogs.”

Farinon also began the process of informing applicants during the hearing process that any changes to the plan of record required the pre-approval of the commission.

The next meeting of the Rochester Conservation Commission is scheduled for November 7 at 7:00 pm in the Rochester Town Hall meeting room.

Rochester Conservation Commission

By Marilou Newell

 

Lt. Gov, BOS Sign Community Compact

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Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito joined the Marion Board of Selectmen on Friday afternoon, October 13, in Marion to sign the 307th Community Compact in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The Community Compact, an initiative by the Governor Charlie Baker-Polito Administration in 2015, is a voluntary agreement between a municipality and the state, and the city or town agrees to implement at least one ‘best practice’ selected from a variety of areas. The best practices chosen are unique to each town and reflect an area in which improvement would be beneficial.

“Today, the Town of Marion joins the growing list of Community Compact communities by entering the focus of human resources best practice areas,” said Board of Selectmen Chairman Jody Dickerson. “Specifically, the agreement with enable to the Town to develop standardized job descriptions for all employees, and develop a thoughtful and well-reasoned classification plan for all non-union employees.

In addition, said Dickerson, “Marion will also commit to studying the Public Works activities with an eye towards making all of its component operations run more effectively to better serve the residents of our community.”

“It really is driven by the community,” said Polito. “Every compact is unique because every community is deciding what it wants to work on. And in particular, your compact is very unique because this is the first community that is studying how to reorganize its Department of Public Works in anticipation of a new superintendent coming in…and of course, to think about the job descriptions in the local government. It’s so important…”

With the Community comes grant monies available to Community Compact towns, as well as information and technology assistance with priority granted to Community Compact towns.

“Cities are critical, but a lot of the surrounding towns are, and there’s sometimes different ways that they interact with state government,” said State Representative Bill Straus. “These compacts I think are important because these agreements reflect what you say is, maybe unlike other levels of government elsewhere, we like to work together! And that’s what’s expected of us.”

“I think the true measure of our success is when the next generation sees this community as a vibrant place,” said Polito. With great schools, jobs and opportunities, and a secure environment, she said, “When you have all that together in a strong community, through that we’ll knit together a stronger state.”

By Jean Perry

Selectmen Pick New Police Chief

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The Marion Board of Selectmen on October 17 voted to appoint Marion Police Lieutenant John Garcia as the next police chief for the Town of Marion.

The board held public interviews with Garcia and Sergeant Richard Nighelli last month, choosing to open up the position internally to department veterans holding rank of lieutenant or sergeant; four were eligible, but only Garcia and Nighelli applied.

“This is a tough decision and I’m glad we’re in this tough decision because no matter who we decide to pick, both of these candidates would be an asset to the Town of Marion,” said Board of Selectmen Chairman Jody Dickerson just before taking a vote.

Selectman Steve Gonsalves agreed, saying, “Both men are extremely qualified. They’re just…like you said, either one is a win for the town and this is one of the tougher decisions in this chair that I’m going to make this evening.”

After the vote, Town Administrator Paul Dawson was able to reach the two gentlemen via phone before adjourning, saying, “Obviously Lt. Garcia is ecstatic.” Dawson added that Sgt. Nighelli thanked the selectmen, “…not only for the kind words, but also your willingness to consider him for the position.”

“This was both a win-win for the town,” said Dawson. “I think Sgt. Nighelli represents the bright future [of this department].”

Current Police Chief Lincoln Miller announced back in May his intent to retire come the end of 2017.

In other news, the Subcommittee of the Town House Building Committee will be joined by Finance Director Judith Mooney and Dawson when it comes the time to review submitted RFQs for the design services for the exploration of a town hall at the Senior/Community Center site on Mill Street, with the capacity to vote on a preferred RFQ along with the seven subcommittee members.

Subcommittee member Robert Lane voiced his preference for allowing Mooney and Dawson to advise the committee, but without voting privileges, saying the subcommittee has a very specific goal with a maximum of $34,000, an amount Lane deemed “a very small amount of money.”

Selectman Norm Hills argued that, since in the past RFQ review committees have always included Mooney and Dawson as voting members, the Town should continue that tradition.

Gonsalves voiced his inclination to grant Lane his request, but ultimately went along with Hills’ motion to allow Mooney and Dawson to join the subcommittee to review the RFQs as voting members.

“I’ll vote ‘aye’, but I’m still not feeling it, but I respect it,” said Gonsalves.

Also during the meeting, the selectmen accepted Chief Miller’s recommendation to appoint Sean Day as a full-time officer. Day has been employed as a part-time special officer for one year. “He’s been a fine officer,” Miller said. “He’s been an asset to the department. He goes the extra mile…and I think he will be a great addition to the department.”

The selectmen also appointed Christian Ingerslev to the Marion Energy Management Committee in a 2-1 vote. Hills made the motion, which was seconded by Dickerson. Gonsalves voted ‘nay,’ saying, “I like Dale [Jones’] thinking,” who was one of three candidates. The third candidate was Mary Endsley.

Also appointed that evening was James Verni to the Conservation Commission, Stephen Cushing to the Carver/Marion/Wareham Regional Refuse Discharge District, and Joseph Guard to the Marine Resources Commission as an alternate member.

The board approved the Marion Music Hall Advisory Board’s request to spend $12,000 from the endowment fund for acoustical ceiling tile in main room of the music hall.

Council on Aging Director Heather Silvia has resigned from her position effective immediately, and will be taking another position in the Town of Acushnet. In the interim, COA Activities Director Karen Gregory will fill Silvia’s position until a new COA director can be hired.

“[Heather] connected with the people that really needed the services and she should be commended,” said Dickerson. “She’s done a great job. I’ve never had a more enjoyable time working with somebody than Heather Silvia. Acushnet’s gain is Marion’s loss.”

The position will be posted and interviews conducted before a hiring subcommittee.

The board set the holiday schedule for the Town House, with the Town House closing for Thanksgiving at noon on Wednesday, November 22, to re-open on Monday, November 27. The Town House will be closed for Christmas on Monday, December 25, and also on January 1, 2018 for New Year’s Day.

The next meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen is scheduled for November 7 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Town House.

Marion Board of Selectmen

By Jean Perry

 

Kenneth R. “Shank” Cacilhas

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Kenneth R. “Shank” Cacilhas, 66, of Mattapoisett passed Friday, October 13, 2017 after a sudden illness in St. Luke’s Hospital. He was the former husband of Cheryl (Oliveira) Cacilhas.

Born in New Bedford, the son of the late Edward C. and Dorothy R. (Serpa) Cacilhas he lived in Dartmouth and spent most his life in Mattapoisett.

Shank graduated from Old Rochester Regional High School. He worked as a truck driver and mechanic for Kyler’s Seafood and Roadway Express for many years. He loved working and driving trucks. Shank will be remembered as a hard worker who loved country music, cross word puzzles and cooking up his “new concoction”. In most recent years, he fell in love with being a grandfather to his two young grandsons.

In addition to Cheryl, he is survived by a son, Kenneth G. Cacilhas and his fiancé Desiree Penman of Rochester; a daughter, Kaitlyn R. Cacilhas of Dartmouth; two grandsons, Jack Holden Cacilhas and Tate Oliver Cacilhas; his cat, Buddy; and many cousins.

His memorial visitation will be Saturday, October 28, 2017 3-7 pm in the Waring-Sullivan Home at Dartmouth, 230 Russells Mills Rd., Dartmouth. Burial will be private. For online tribute/directions www.waring-sullivan.com.

 

Bertha S. “Beth” (Salvucci) Kelley

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Bertha S. “Beth” (Salvucci) Kelley, of Mattapoisett died October 16, 2017 at home.

She was the wife of the late Roger E. Kelley.

Born in Waltham, MA the daughter of the late Peter and Bertha (Pazzano) Salvucci, she lived in Weston, MA before moving to Mattapoisett in 1965.

Mrs. Kelley graduated with honors from Fisher College and attended the Bishop Lee School of Drama in Boston. She was formerly employed at M.I.T. as an administrative assistant and was a real estate broker.

She was a communicant of St. Anthony’s Church.

Mrs. Kelley was a member of Manconchu Club, the Mattapoisett Women’s Club, Friends of the Elderly and the Senior Bowling League at Bowlmor.

The family would like to thank Beacon Hospice and her caregivers, Wendy, Denise, Kate, Tammy, Miranda and Crystal for their help in keeping Bertha at home.

Survivors include her three children, Susan Akin of Mattapoisett, Dr. Roger Kelley, Jr. and his wife Susan of New Orleans, LA and David Kelley of Arlington, VA; four grandchildren, Kimberly Watrous of Stonington, CT, Barbara Tillman of Shreveport, LA, Bradford Kelley of Arlington, VA and Brian Kelley of New Orleans, LA; and three great-grandchildren, Emma Watrous, Julia Tillman and Foster Tillman.

She was the sister of the late Peter Salvucci, Ralph Salvucci, Francis Salvucci and Joseph Salvucci.

Her Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, November 4th at 10 am in St. Anthony’s Church. Burial will follow in Cushing Cemetery. Arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home For Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6) Mattapoisett. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverley Oaks Rd., Waltham, MA 02452. For on-line guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

 

Friends Academy Open House

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Friends Academy, located at 1088 Tucker Road in North Dartmouth, will hold an Open House on Sunday, November 5 from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm. Families who are interested in learning more about the school’s programs, including the Sally Borden Program for children with language-based learning differences, are invited to tour the school with student guides, visit classrooms, and speak with teachers, alums, and current and past parents. Parents and their children are also invited to hike Friends Academy’s 5 kilometers of trails. There will be a StoryWalk® available for younger students to enjoy with refreshments to follow.

Friends Academy serves students from early childhood through grade 8. This event is designed to allow families to explore Friends Academy in depth and to better understand the value of the dynamic and meaningful educational experience the school provides children in the South Coast, Cape Cod, and Rhode Island areas.

The Sally Borden Program offers a unique educational opportunity for children with language-based learning differences, including difficulty acquiring reading, spelling, written expression, math, organizational and/or study skills due to dyslexia or a specific learning disability. An informational session about The Sally Borden School will be held at 2:30 pm.

Founded in 1810, Friends Academy is an independent non-profit day school serving boys and girls. For more information call Katherine Gaudet, assistant head of school for admissions and community engagement, at 508-999-1356.

Old Rochester Travel Basketball Association

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Old Rochester Travel Basketball Association is announcing their tryouts for the 2017-18 basketball season on Saturday, October 21. This is open to boys 4th – 8th grade and girls 5th – 8th grade from Marion, Mattapoisett, and Rochester, as well as School Choice students. The tryout schedule is as follows:

All boys’ tryouts will be held at the ORR High School on October 21;

4th grade boys 4:00 – 5:00 pm, 5th boys 5:00 – 6:00 pm, 6th boys 6:00 – 7:00 pm,

7th boys 7:00 – 8:00 pm, 8th boys 8:00 – 9:00 pm.

All girls’ tryouts will be held at the ORR Junior High on October 21;

5th grade girls 4:00 – 5:00 pm, 6th girls 5:00 – 6:00 pm, 7th girls 6:00 – 7:00 pm, 8th girls 7:00 – 8:00 pm.

All new and returning players must tryout to be considered and properly evaluated. All players must register in advance for tryouts. If you cannot attend tryouts but wish to still be considered you still need to register. To register and get more information visit www.ortba.org.

Women’s Guild Christmas Fair

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The First Congregational Church of Rochester Women’s Guild will hold its annual Christmas fair on Saturday, November 4 from 9:00 am until 2:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall at the Church on 11 Constitution Way, Rochester. There will be many tables with handmade items, silent auction, baked goods, jewelry, plants, hand carved birds, quilted items, indoor yard sale, knitted items, and special occasion cards. Delicious chicken soup and sandwiches will be served for lunch.

The Hawk and Osprey Migration

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The thrill of bird watching in autumn might suddenly arrive from over the horizon when any number of a wide variety of raptors appears in flights of migration, taking wing a day or two after the arrival of a high pressure system and cold front and driven by a northwesterly wind.

The sight of their soaring numbers to catch a ride on thermals rising up from Earth warmed with the morning sun is easily recognized as the iconic migrating pilgrimage.

The peak performance in numbers and variety of species can include a number of hawk varieties including the Cooper’s hawk, red-tailed, red-shouldered, rough-legged, Northern harriers, and fish hawks like the osprey — the subject of my drawing as seen from the view of nesting towers outside my living room window.

Often the best viewing time is after 8:00 in the morning, seen from a high hill or a prominent point such as my new home right on the shoreline of Buzzards Bay. I will be the first to know when migration begins for the osprey family there on the tall wooden platform where all summer long we have enjoyed watching a fledgling raised by two parents, fed by the mother with food brought by the father.

The most important of all for the fledgling has been learning to fly by imitation and to fend for itself in preparation for a migration journey of up to 2,500 miles or more. When that time comes with the dawn of the first day, as in my illustration, it is my opinion the fledgling will take a cue from the mother as she normally departs before her mate and may not be joined with him until next spring.

Today, technology makes it easier to follow the path of migrating birds because satellite and G.P.S. are gradually replaced by new monitoring and cellular tags that get smaller and lighter every year, thanks to battery improvements and solar powered options. Tracking the first movement of a fledgling may be erratic as they often first experiment and explore the neighborhood with a test of wings in distance and direction to get back home.

Traditional stopping points along the Atlantic Flyway have been tracked to be first along the Connecticut shoreline near Old Lyme, then past the mouth of the Hudson River toward Sandy Point, New Jersey, and ultimately a major build up in numbers at Cape May, New Jersey, similar to other hawk migrations.

After crossing the Chesapeake and further south past the Florida Everglades and Key West, the resolve in direction and distance seems to have wavered and waned in recent years, possibly due to global climate change. Some are now spotted staying for the winter in the wetlands of Cuba, but others still go as far as along the Amazon River in Brazil or even in Venezuela.

Such monitoring of migration movements and patterns may very well shed light on measurement of the variation and environmental health of raptor populations.

For the rest of us who remain satisfied to stay where we are, we are content enough to be rewarded by observing the dramatic daily deciduous transformation.

Looking skyward often reminds me of the prayer “I shall lift mine eyes unto the hills, whence cometh my help“, and this experience may be amplified with a good pair of binoculars.

Recently across Little Bay in Fairhaven, there appeared in the distance the seasonal vision of hundreds of hawks circling together until boiling up to dissipate into the distance. As in the

nostalgic seasonal refrain “the falling leaves drift past my window”, looking across the water where changing tides measure the transition in time, the end of one planetary cycle in the heavens leads to the beginning of another on Earth, soon to be anticipated and celebrated in keeping with the coming holidays.

By George B. Emmons

OC’s Leadership Shows with Fall Championship Drive

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It was a wonderful Homecoming Week at Old Colony, but Athletic Director Matt Trahan is even more excited about the days ahead — hopefully, Championship Week.

With volleyball, boys’ soccer, and football all looking at co or outright Mayflower League championships, it’s been a great October in the Rochester woods.

“Lots of good stuff happening this fall,” Trahan said. “We’re very excited.”

On Tuesday night, OC played Upper Cape, with a win clinching the Mayflower crown and a loss still keeping a co-championship in play. On Wednesday, it was a boys’ soccer showdown — also against Upper Cape, and then on Saturday the big trip to Cape Cod Tech with a football crown on the line.

A Mayflower crown would be the Cougars’ first since the late 1990s, thanks to a five-game winning streak after a season-opening loss.

“The coaching staff is doing a tremendous job, and the kids have bought in,” Trahan said. “They believe in the coaches and each other, and it shows.”

Trahan feels that the fall success is a product of some great senior leadership.

“It’s a very tight-knit senior group, and we knew it was going to pay off,” he said.

Those seniors were honored during Homecoming proceedings last week, including the thrilling 20-14 night win under donated portable lights vs Upper Cape last Friday night.

“The kids play to the very last whistle,” Trahan said. “Things get a little dicey, but they weather the storm and handle it.”

Trahan was proud of the crowd as well, which came out in force to support the Cougars. “It was wall to wall people, and that just changes the complexion of the football game. And I’m biased, but I think Old Colony, being out in the woods, with those lights, it’s just a beautiful scene.”

ORR

At Old Rochester, the Bulldogs bounced back with a 49-8 football win at Fairhaven that was a tribute to the power of blocking and carrying.

While the NFL and college football build their offense around short passes and first downs, the Bulldogs are a reminder that the running game is still king in high school.

ORR (5-1) won handily despite passing exactly one time all game, rushing for over 300 yards despite calling off the ‘Dogs in the second half. Desmond Dias, Will Garcia, Cole McIntyre and Harry Smith scored the touchdowns, and kicker Jonathan Borsari was 7-for-7 on extra points.

The Bulldogs now await their playoff seeding, and went into last week’s game ranked third out of 15 teams in Division 6 South.

ORR’s girls’ soccer team finally saw its 13-game win streak come to an end, tying Somerset-Berkley 2-2 when the visitors from SB fired home a late goal. But they will still almost certainly be South Coast Conference champs — as will the golf team, which won the title last week thanks to great shooting across the board.

Seniors Colin Fitzpatrick, Jason Gamache, and Jacob Yeomans have led the way for the golf squad.

Looking ahead, ORR looks to keep its field hockey team toward the top of the playoff seedings with a Friday game at Case, ORR’s girls host New Bedford and the boys face Dartmouth.

Also, there’s a rare ORR-Tabor Academy showdown on Saturday in volleyball, at 2:00 pm at the Tabor gym.

Tabor Academy

Over at Tabor, there have been more of the growing pains expected with the move to the Independent School League. The football team fell to BB&N, 42-12, and on the same day lost to Greenwich Academy in field hockey 4-1. It was telling that in the loss, Annie Berry scored for Tabor — the only goal allowed all year by their opponent.

One of Tabor’s best athletes is former Old Rochester basketball standout Noah Fernandes, who visited North Carolina State last weekend as he looks to play Division 1 basketball. He will team with Chris Herren Jr. this year in what will be an exciting team.

By Jonathan Comey