A Not-So-Common Intelligence

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            The so-called Common Raven is also a high-profile member of Aesop’s fabled birds that is well known for solving difficult puzzles by using tools with the same ability as a human being.

            For example, the Raven has been shown to select and hold short sticks in its mouth to use them to probe down into holes of rotten wood to cleverly retrieve insects and ants to be swallowed as a healthy meal. Another use of tools when its nest is approached too closely by visitors, a Raven will pick up a selection of conveniently sized stones to fly overhead and drop them over the heads of an intruder as a serious warning not to come any closer.

            As in my illustration, Ravens are just as clever as crows and share with them a curious hobby of collecting shiny objects in a treasure trove under their nearby nest to proudly show it off to visitors.

            For example, each Raven is mouthing a car key as well as a 10-cent coin and also a copper penny with Abraham Lincoln’s profile in its mouth. This curious habit of collecting and showing off an array of selected objects is an indication of almost even human intelligence, as well as pride in showing it to visitors.

            Long before, the Raven’s reputation was immortalized by Edgar Allen Poe’s poem for literary significance by quoting the expression “never more, Lenore.” The Raven poetry had already established the bird’s dark prophecy of death, pestilence and disease through its own personality and mental frame of mind about superstitions.

            Historically, the most-famous, universal belief in medieval thinking was that the royal towers and castle around London Bridge could never be destroyed or damaged by an evil foreign power so long as Ravens occupied its official establishment with their special powers.

            The Raven over the years has developed a reputation of superstitious beliefs and expressions that include its own language of guttural gurgling emphasized with metallic-sounding vocabulary that are of their very own.

            The intelligence level has been described and evaluated as being on the level of a five-year-old human child. However, the not-so-common Raven will certainly continue to develop and prove itself as an enlightened member of birds in your backyard that is worth reading about in the current Wanderer.

By George B. Emmons

Rochester Candidates Forum

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It has been a tradition for the Rochester Council on Aging (COA) to hold a candidate’s forum during an election year. In keeping with tradition, we will be holding a forum for candidates on Wednesday, May 10 from 7 pm to 9 pm here at the Rochester Senior Center located at 67 Dexter Lane. Each of the 21 candidates for town offices in Rochester will be given up to 4 minutes to address the audience.

Mattapoisett Museum Enrolls in the Blue Star Museum Program

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Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and participating museums across America. During the summer months, free admission is available to currently serving military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve.

            Free admission for military personnel and their families begins on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 20, and end on Labor Day, Monday, September 4. Armed Forces Day was established in 1949 for citizens to unite and thank military members for their patriotic service.

            The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States Military—Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard as well as members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps—and up to five family members.

            To find other participating museums in the community or to find other museums during your summer travels, visit arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.

            The Mattapoisett Museum is proud to be part of Blue Star Museums for a second year, a national appreciation program to thank our military families for their service and share America’s cultural treasures with them.

Financial Interest

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To the Editor;

            On April 20, 2023, The Mattapoisett Select Board met with the Town’s Finance Committee to review, among many items, an Article on the Warrant for Town Meeting on May 8, 2023 addressing elected officers’ compensation. One of those Elected Officers who has requested a raise in their yearly salary from $80,000 to $87,500 is Highway Surveyor Garrett Bauer, while the other elected officer is Town Clerk Catherine Heuberger. Garrett Bauer is Select Board member Jodi Bauer’s son and Catherine Heuberger is Jodi Bauer’s cousin, by marriage.

            Mass G.L. c 268A, specifically Sections 19 and 23(b)(2) & (3) apply to the conduct of elected officials in the Commonwealth, which includes elected Select Board members such as Ms. Bauer. It holds, in pertinent part, that a municipal employee may not participate in any particular matter in which she or a member of her immediate family (parents, children, siblings, spouse, and spouse’s parents, children, and siblings) has a financial interest. She also may not participate in any particular matter in which a prospective employer, or a business organization of which she is a director, officer, trustee, or employee has a financial interest. Participation includes discussing as well as voting on a matter, and delegating a matter to someone else.

            The law goes on to state that a “financial interest” may create a conflict of interest whether it is large or small, and positive or negative. In other words, it does not matter if a lot of money is involved or only a little. It also does not matter if you are putting money into your pocket or taking it out. If you, your immediate family, your business, or your employer have or has a financial interest in a matter, you may not participate. The financial interest must be direct and immediate or reasonably foreseeable to create a conflict. Financial interests which are remote, speculative or not sufficiently identifiable do not create conflicts.

            During this part of the meeting, not only did Jodi Bauer actively participate in discussions concerning a matter regarding a family member’s financial interest – Garrett Bauer’s requested salary increase – she openly advocated on his behalf while threatening that if Mr. Bauer did not receive the requested raise, he would leave the Town’s employ and the Town would be in a bind because only he and one other employee held a particular type of license to operate a piece of machinery; and that other employee, whom she happened to personally name in the meeting, would be going on a medical leave, thereby divulging confidential medical information about a Town employee. One must query how Ms. Bauer learned of this confidential medical information of another Town employee as a Select Board member but the fact that she lacked the ability to recognize the legal ramifications of her conduct should be concerning to all Mattapoisett voters. Moreover, when Ms. Bauer advocated on behalf of her son, was she really acting in the Town’s best interests or her son’s? The Town deserves an answer to this question.

            Ms. Bauer’s transgressions did not end at her participation in the discussion over her son’s salary. They continued with her refusal to abstain from voting on a matter in which her son had a direct and significant financial interest, and she proceeded to record what I would assert is an illegal and illegitimate on the record vote on the matter on April 20, 2023.

            In closing, this is not meant as a negative commentary on Mr. Bauer’s job performance nor it is intended to impugn the validity of Mr. Bauer’s request. In agreement with Mr. McAllister, Mr. Collyer and Mr. Lorenco, since Mr. Bauer was elected as Highway Surveyor, we as residents have experienced an improvement in the quality of the services our Highway Department provides and we thank him for that. However, as an elected Select Board member of this Town, Jodi Bauer must adhere to the conflict of interest laws that apply to all elected officials of the Commonwealth. On April 20, 2023, she fell very short in a number of respects. I submit the remedy should be that the money be appropriated for the requested raises, but tabled at Town Meeting until a new, legal vote is taken by the Select Board publicly reflecting Ms. Bauer’s recusal from discussions about and abstention from voting on the recommended raises.

Nicki Demakis, Mattapoisett

The views expressed in the “Letters to the Editor” column are not necessarily those of The Wanderer, its staff or advertisers. The Wanderer will gladly accept any and all correspondence relating to timely and pertinent issues in the great Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester area, provided they include the author’s name, address and phone number for verification. We cannot publish anonymous, unsigned or unconfirmed submissions. The Wanderer reserves the right to edit, condense and otherwise alter submissions for purposes of clarity and/or spacing considerations. The Wanderer may choose to not run letters that thank businesses, and The Wanderer has the right to edit letters to omit business names. The Wanderer also reserves the right to deny publication of any submitted correspondence. All letters must be typed and submitted directly to: news@wanderer.com.

Sneak Peek at Town Meeting

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            Of the 34 warrant articles up for vote at the May 12 Annual Town Meeting, the one that drew the most attention during Tuesday night’s “pre-Town Meeting” public hearing at the Music Hall was the $1,200,000 ladder truck being requested by the Marion Fire Department.

            Given the floor, resident Alan Menard estimated that the request accounts for 40% of items recommended by the Capital Improvements Planning Committee. Given the town’s 35-foot maximum allowable height for new constructions, he asked why.

            Town Administrator Geoff Gorman summarized that a replacement is needed for the 1991 truck that requires an annual $15,000 in maintenance. An exact duplicate would cost the town $2,000,000, and the truck being targeted for purchase will cost the town $400,000 less than its initial proposal. The life expectancy of the recommended replacement is 30 years.

            Fire Chief Brian Jackvony noted that replacing the ladder truck is part of the town’s ISL certification, which sets insurance rates for the community soon facing an audit.

            As Jackvony explained, justifying a 96-foot extension into the air may seem unnecessary while driving down Main Street, where houses were built just back from the sidewalk. Today, he said, the zoning setback for Residence A-E is 35 feet from the property line to the building, meaning a truck parked in the middle of the road needs almost 60 feet of aerial ladder just to get to the house. He also noted that Marion has grown from homes measuring 2,000 square feet to 5,000 and sometimes 10,000 square feet.

            Another matter of firefighting is method, which has changed with solar panels on houses.

            “That also makes the job of the firefighter more difficult,” said Jackvony, who said the truck becoming available to the town later this year is made by the same manufacturer as other fire equipment in town.

            Jackvony said he looked at quotes from other communities and noted that a 2016 competitive grant would be awarded towns with more multiresidential facilities such as New Bedford and Wareham.

            A 10-year-old used truck, he said, would bring with it frame deterioration. The value of Marion’s current ladder truck is $4,500 in scrap, Jackvony said.

            Steve Nojeim of the CIPC thanked Jackvony for his work and asked if Marion can consider going in with surrounding towns on equipment that doesn’t get used as regularly.

            In answer to citizens’ questions related to the $122,000 line item to replace the Creek Road water main that was at one time brand new but never put into service, Department of Public Works Director Becky Tilden explained that the DPW’s “first thought was line the water main to put the existing one in service.” That plan was scrapped when it was learned the pipe was in bad condition, including cracks.

            Article 2 will ask voters to raise and appropriate $26,000,722 toward a FY24 operating budget of $27,516,635. Finance Director Judy Mooney went through line items explaining budget tweaks.

            Public Safety is up 5.5% to $2,208,546 due to the addition of a School Resource Officer and state-mandated police reform that will affect the Harbormaster Department.

            Schools are up 2.55% to $6,666,193, the Public Works Administration is up 3.44% to $2,323,881 and Pension and Insurance is up 8.49% to $4,285,980. Debt service will go up 24.62% to $665,298.

            Community Preservation Committee allocations were highlighted by $378,000 for Open Space/Historical/Housing; $85,000 for the town’s participation in the Mattapoisett River Valley Water District and Buzzards Bay Coalition programs that are supported by a $4,500,000 grant, and $75,000 for the via Recreation Department to turn two tennis courts in poor condition into four pickleball courts.

            Nojeim asked if the work (Articles 11, 18 and 19) of taking inventory and digitizing historic items could involve the local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, to which CPC Chairman Jeff Doubrava explained that the delicate work “dealing with old, irreplaceable items” necessitates the use of professional archivists.

            Article 28 will ask voters to authorize all Marion boards, commissions and committees to use the Mullin Rule. Presently only the Planning Board is authorized to use the rule, which allows a member to miss one session of a public hearing and still vote on a case.

            During the regular agenda that preceded the public hearing on the Town Meeting Warrant, the Select Board heard a report from Board of Assessors Chairman TJ Walker and member Pat DeCosta on revaluation.

            With an injury in the office, Walker said the Assessor’s office relied heavily on DeCosta to offset a staffing shortage for a number of weeks but that tax bills are going out on time.

            Walker noted a drastic climb in average single-family house value in 2019.

            A resident said his home was assessed as a contemporary but had thought his house should be classified as a ranch. He asked about what software program Marion uses to evaluate properties. DeCosta explained that contemporaries usually go down in value but went up this year. … “Everything is selling way above assessed value,” she said.

            Under Action Items, the Select Board approved the following: the Kittansett Club’s alcohol license, appointment of Norm Hills to the Joint Transportation Planning Group (JTPG), a sewer connection at 55 Pleasant Street and Water/Sewer commitments of $1,043.18 (final readings April 12) and $7,829.82 (final readings April 25.)

            In his Town Administrator’s Report, Geoff Gorman said the Annual Town Meeting will be held on Monday, May 8, at 6:45 pm at Sippican Elementary School’s Multipurpose room, and a Food Drive will be held on Election Day, Friday, May 12, from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm at the Cushing Community Center, site of the polls.

By Mick Colageo

More School Choice Slots in Grade 8

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            It was determined at the April 27 meeting of the Old Rochester Regional School Committee that up to 12 eighth graders will be allowed School Choice slots within the ORR District during the 2023-24 year. The vote will not change either the maximum of 125 School Choice students allowed in Grades 7-12 or the maximum 20 students allowed slots in Grade 7.

            The committee voted unanimously to approve Old Rochester Youth Football’s request of four game days of use of the high school’s Multipurpose Field, each day including five games on either Saturdays or Sundays in September or October.

            “It’s a good relationship. We like having Bulldogs on campus,” said ORR High School Principal Mike Devoll, recommending a positive vote from the committee.

            Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson said that ORYF’s usage would be subject to weather, field conditions and the needs of the high school which take precedent. Devoll noted that an ORYF game day was cancelled last year due to weather-related field conditions.

            “I think last year we had the same conversation, we were able to make it happen. As far as I know, there were no negative effects,” said committee member Jason Chisholm, adding that varsity football coach Bryce Guilbeault is supportive of the idea. “I think we should absolutely support this. I know we have to follow protocol, but it would be nice if (ORYF) didn’t have to come back every year.”

            The ORR District is the recipient of several donations of varying kinds.

            Approved by the ORR School Committee were: a Perkins Grant of $5,000 for class supplies and transportation earmarked toward high school students doing internships and a Northeast Food for Schools grant of $14,583 to procure local and minimally processed foods for ORR’s meals program in 2023-24.

            In separate votes, ORR’s DECA chapter became the recipient of three donations, $300 from Fieldstone, $500 from Hiller Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Ram and $500 from Basic Financial Charitable Foundation. The donations support the DECA program and particularly trips.

            In separate votes, the committee unanimously approved Memorandums of Agreement between the committee and the ORR Teachers Association for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 sports stipends.

            The committee voted to approve several donations, including two 5×7-inch plaques to be given students for the Director’s Award and the Woody Herman Jazz Award. FORM also donated an amount not to exceed $400 for pizza, water and desserts for the band and chorus students’ end-of-the-year festival celebration on May 26 at the Junior High. FORM was also approved for a donation of a $100 gift certificate to Symphony Music for the James Armour Award. The McNulty Family’s donation of a snare drum to the Music Department was also approved.

            The committee voted to accept two 12 book donations from Greg Hardy, including “Woke Racism” by John McWhorter and “False Alarm” by Bjorn Lomborg. Devoll explained to the committee that the school librarian reviewed the texts and found that the other 10 books either met with negative or no professional reviews.

            Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Dr. Shari Federowicz updated the committee on the literacy program and recognized committee member Rose Bowman for her work presenting on parent-teacher engagement.

            With help from Devoll, attending the ORR boy’s winter track-and-field team was recognized for its 2023 Division 4 state championship.

            During public comment, Tom Kearns thanked the administration and the committee for the job they did in 2022-23 during trying times. He also thanked the librarian staff for its work and expressed confidence in the department.

            Nicki Demakis echoed Kearns’ sentiments and praised the committee and Matt Monteiro in particular for acting without bias and relying on experts in the evaluation of books. She also praised Chairperson Michelle Smith for her effort.

            Shortly after the public session began, the committee entered executive session and returned to public session.

            The next meeting of the ORR School Committee is scheduled for Thursday, May 18, and the next meeting of the Joint School Committee is scheduled for Wednesday, May 10. Both meetings begin at 6:30 pm at the ORR Junior High Media Room and are accessible live via Zoom.

By Mick Colageo

Mattapoisett Yacht Club

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Mattapoisett Yacht Club kicks off its 2023 season with The Annual Spring Fling on May 20. Open to all members and their guests, the gala event will be held outside starting at 5 pm at the home of Jim and Dale Barnes, 69 Mattapoisett Neck Road.

            There will be a variety of chilies and fixing stations. Members are asked to bring appetizers. MYC will provide the bar.  Last year’s event was a huge success, and the weather was great. RSVP to stephentinaclark@gmail.com with numbers attending before May 16.

Mattapoisett Friends Council on Aging Spring Luncheon

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At noon, Thursday, May 11, there is a Spring Luncheon at the Mattapoisett Council on Aging. The lunch is provided by RW Catering. The menu includes rolls and butter, Chicken Piccata, Veggies, Roasted Potatoes, and dessert. There will be a Door Prize and a 50/50 raffle. It is requested that you bring some personal care items as a Community Service donation.

Assistant to Maintain Title

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            The Rochester Select Board met on Monday and approved and signed the warrant for the May 22 Annual Town Meeting, with one big surprise. It was by a vote of 2-1, with board member Paul Ciaburri voting against. That negative vote from Ciaburri, who was attending remotely via Zoom, resulted from discussion of one of the salary items in the proposed $25,000,000 FY24 operating budget.

            Select Board Chairman Woody Hartley and member Brad Morse said they wanted to eliminate from the budget a Town Administrator Administrative Assistant position proposed by the new Personnel Board. They argued no one had discussed the plan for the new position with the Select Board in advance, and they wanted more time and needed more funding than budgeted to consider a new job that would be under the Select Board’s jurisdiction.

            Ciaburri asked, “Why can’t we let the people decide at Town Meeting?” Later in the discussion, Ciaburri added, “We’re giving raises to a lot of people in this budget. My question is why can’t we spend it on this one?”

            Hartley and Morse, nonetheless, kept Town Administrator Glenn Cannon’s proposed changes to the warrant before voting to sign it.

            Before that motion, Personnel Board member Adam Murphy asked why his panel’s hard work reclassifying a job description over the past year was being rebuffed this way. He argued this is a change in a job classification, not a new job per se, and someone is already doing the duties in the job description. The Personnel Board’s specific goal was to streamline the job classifications within Town Hall, Murphy noted.

            The new Personnel bylaw states his panel’s mission is to categorize job descriptions to be financially compensated in a like manner. Now someone will keep doing those duties for less compensation, Murphy argued.

            Murphy also noted that Cannon sits in on every Personnel Board meeting. Why is that not enough advance notice of the panel’s decision making, he asked.

            Morse said the Select Board knows this oversight is Cannon’s responsibility, and Cannon has been spoken to about it. Cannon agreed, saying he takes full responsibility for the Select Board’s lack of adequate time to respond to the matter.

            Hartley admitted the Personnel review system could be more refined but added, “We are trying to be careful with the town’s money. We see a reduction in free cash in our future. This is a decision we had to make.”

            In a follow-up interview, Ciaburri explained he feels that elevating the duties and compensation of the Select Board/Town Administrator’s administrative assistant was the right thing to do.

            “I feel the Personnel Board did their due diligence and have it correct,” Ciaburri said. “I’ve seen their hard work. This is what the Personnel Board was trying to do. Her job has changed. She has so much more work to do and should be compensated for it. What the Personnel Board did was absolutely right.”

            He said someone on Town Meeting floor could motion to retain the new position, “and that would be the right thing to do.”

            During Monday night’s meeting, Morse and Hartley whittled down the warrant they approved to 32 articles to include combining two articles, one to eliminate the town’s Stretch building codes and the other to withdraw from the Green Communities program, into one article.

            The Stretch codes tighten the base building codes in the name of more energy-efficient construction but are an expensive part of being a Green Community. The town is reconsidering its participation in the Green Communities program as it explores the costs of building an addition to the Police station and building a new Fire station.

            The Select Board also approved a new approach to presenting articles at Town Meeting. Crediting Town Moderator David Arancio for his suggestion, Hartley proposed that speakers who can explain each article be introduced as each article is presented. All three Select Board members agreed.

            In other action, the board approved appointing Richard Forand as alternate building inspector.

            No future meeting date was set before adjournment.

Rochester Select Board

By Michael J. DeCicco

Long Path to Successful Connection

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            “In 1996 when I got started with this thing, my children were four and five years old. Now their children are one and four,” stated Steve Kelleher chairman of the Mattapoisett Bike Path Committee. Time does slip into the future.

            Kelleher remembered that he had read a magazine article that spoke to a state bill that would mandate 10% of state Department of Transportation spending be allocated for recreational pathways, aka, bike paths. Armed with this information, he approached the then-seated Board of Selectmen about establishing a bike-path committee.

            Kelleher’s thinking at the time was that DOT monies would be available for the construction of a bike path on the railroad easement. Thus began the long and winding road that included decades of meetings, decades of planning and decades of grant writing in cooperation with the Mattapoisett Friends of the Bike Path.

            Today Kelleher and company are high-fiving.

            The most difficult phase, in terms of engineering, dubbed the Shining Tides Bike Path or Phase 1b, was opened to the public on April 28 after nearly two years of delays. Without fanfare but with a simple turn of a key in a padlock, the gates were opened. Select Board member Jordan Collyer has promised an official ceremonial opening planned for late May.

            Some of those delays can be chalked up to COVID-19 shutdowns and pandemic spread, but a months-long delay can also be directly attributed to engineering decisions that trimmed dollars off the state-funded project with the installation of planking not previously vetted with the town. Problems with the planking were brought to the attention of the Select Board by a resident with engineering chops. Upon further review, the planking was found to be defective.

            As reported by The Wanderer in November 2020, Planning Board Administrator Mike Gagne explained the series of events that led several community members with professional engineering backgrounds to contact Town Administrator Mike Lorenco with their concerns. Without a satisfactory response, Lorenco went from MassDOT to Representative Bill Straus for assistance.

            Gagne reported that the planking used between the Goodspeed Island beach spanning over the Eel Pond breach was of different material than that used in other locations. “The planks are warping and the laminated material is splitting,” he stated, later explaining that MassDOT had looked for “alternative analysis” (cost-saving measures) but with Straus’ intervention, the state planned to bring in a third-party engineer to evaluate and determine if the planks could be saved.

            The planking from Reservation Road to Mattapoisett Neck Road was a more costly variety of mahogany, whereas the planks used in the beach span were laminated pine, said Gagne.

            It appeared that the project had come to a standstill. The Select Board, in partnership with Straus, was in frequent contact with the DOT. The pandemic continued to plague the project as workers became ill. Volatile comments posted on Facebook group pages prompted Collyer to state at a recent public meeting, “This won’t solve anything.”

            Material issues were resolved to the town’s satisfaction, but achieving a Memorandum of Understanding between the town and the state resulted in more delay. Collyer became the Select Board’s point person in finding verbiage that would indemnify the town from financial responsibility for the boardwalk’s material replacement or other maintenance up to 20 years.

             During their April 27 meeting, Collyer announced a meeting of the minds had been achieved. “We worked with Representative Straus, the town’s administrator, and MassDOT … now the town won’t have to worry,” he said.

            The price tag for the Shining Tides section hovers around $7,000,000.

            Now all vested parties can turn their full attention to Phases 2a and 2b. Kelleher said there will be challenges, primarily in engineering a project that protects neighboring private property owners along the railroad easement from Railroad Avenue through the Park Street neighborhood and entering the state’s park-and-ride area on North Street. Two difficult crossings, one at Railroad Avenue and another at North Street, are high on the list for careful planning.

            But Kelleher said that the Marion connector (at the end of Industrial Drive) was completed with money supplied from the Friends group and a state grant and that Phase 2b design work of Industrial Drive, that including a bike lane, has already been designed, leaving Phase 2a.

            In the meantime, people are flocking to the newly opened Shining Tides pathway. Even on a recent windy, stormy day, smiling faces walked or rode along, taking in the vistas offered from an elevated boardwalk across barrier beaches.

By Marilou Newell