Marion

Town of Marion Designated as Green Community

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Town of Marion
Town Administrator Paul F. Dawson
2 Spring St.
Marion, MA 02738

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

Town of Marion Designated as Green Community

MARION — Town Administrator Paul Dawson and the Marion Board of Selectmen are pleased to announce that the Town of Marion was designated as a Green Community by the state late last month.

“With so much conversation being made lately about the environment and our impact on it, this designation as a Green Community comes at just the right time,” Town Administrator Dawson said. “I think it all starts at home with everyone being mindful of the ways we can do a better job of protecting our environment and I am proud that the town has been recognized by the state for taking its own steps in doing just that.”

In a letter sent by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER), Selectman Chair Norman Hills was notified of the new designation for the town on Thursday, Dec. 27.

The DOER Green Communities Division provides technical assistance and financial support for municipal initiatives to improve energy efficiency and increase the use of renewable energy in public buildings, facilities and schools.

There are five criteria to be a Green Community. Meeting those criteria qualifies communities for state funding to increase their efforts. The criteria are:

  • Provide as-of-right siting in designated locations for renewable/alternative energy generation, research & development, or manufacturing facilities.
  • Adopt an expedited application and permit process for as-of-right energy facilities.
  • Establish an energy use baseline for municipal buildings and facilities, and develop a plan to reduce energy use by twenty percent after five years
  • Purchase fuel-efficient vehicles when available and practicable
  • Minimize life-cycle energy costs for new construction homes and buildings; on way to meet these requirements is to adopt the new Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) Stretch Code

“Meeting these criteria is proof of Marion’s position as an energy leader in Massachusetts, poised to reduce its energy costs, improve the local environment and implement energy efficiency and renewable energy projects with funding through the Green Communities Designation and Grant Program,” Nicholas Connors Director of the Green Communities Division wrote in his letter to Selectman Hills.

Marion’s Energy Management Committee (EMC) has led the town’s effort to gain Green Community status since 2013 and 2014 when it promoted the Solar Bylaw, and began to investigate the Stretch Code. More than 100 solar projects have been installed in town since that time.

With the help of the EMC, the town has also executed a power purchase agreement with Future Generation Wind to net meter electric power to town buildings and facilities at savings in excess of $90,000 per year.

In addition, the town was able to lease four electric vehicles for the use of town departments with help from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.

Currently EMC has proposed and overseen the replacement of all of the town’s cobra-head streetlights with more efficient LED fixtures for additional energy savings.

With the new Green Community designation the town has been awarded a grant of $132,672 to cover the cost of additional energy-saving projects. A list of the proposed projects is presently being developed for submission to the Green Communities Division.

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Marion Fire Department Reminds Residents of Holiday Fire Safety Tips

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For Immediate Release

Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

Marion Fire Department Reminds Residents of Holiday Fire Safety Tips

MARION — With the holiday season officially upon us, Fire Chief Brian Jackvony and the Marion Fire Department would like to remind residents to be aware of fire hazards when illuminating their homes this month. 

“We want residents to remain safe and injury-free this season and to be extra mindful as they decorate their homes with lights, trees, and candles,” Chief Jackvony said. “Residents should take precautions and follow these simple tips to ensure a happy and fire-free holiday season.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), between 2012-2016, fire departments responded to an average of 170 home fires that started with Christmas trees per year. These fires caused an average of four deaths, 15 injuries, and $12 million in direct property damage annually. 


In order to prevent Christmas tree and other fires that can be caused by holiday decorations, Marion Fire recommends residents follow safety tips provided by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission:

Christmas Trees

  • Many artificial trees are fire resistant. If you buy one, look for a statement specifying this protection.
  • Place trees away from fireplaces, radiators and other heat sources. Heated rooms dry trees out rapidly, creating fire hazards.
  • Cut off about two inches of the trunk to expose fresh wood for better water absorption.

Lights

  • Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety. Identify these by the label from an independent testing laboratory.
  • Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Discard damaged sets or repair them before using. 
  • Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord. 
  • Turn off all lights on trees and other decorations when you go to bed or leave the house. Lights could short and start a fire. 

Candles

  • Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens.
  • Always use non-flammable holders.
  • Keep candles away from other decorations and wrapping paper.
  • Place candles where they cannot be knocked down or blown over.

General Rules for Holiday Safety

  • Keep matches, lighters, and candles out of reach of children.
  • Avoid smoking near flammable decorations.
  • Make an emergency plan to use if a fire breaks out anywhere in the home. See that each family member knows what to do. Practice the plan!
  • Avoid wearing loose flowing clothes — particularly long, open sleeves — near open flames – such as those of a fireplace, stove, or candlelight table. 
  • Burning evergreens in the fireplace can also be hazardous. When dry, greens burn like tinder. Flames can flare out of control, and send sparks flying into a room, or up the chimney to ignite creosote deposits. 

For more information on Christmas tree safety tips, visit the National Fire Protection Association website or contact the Marion Fire Department at 508-748-3596.

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*MEDIA ADVISORY* Town of Marion to Host Recycling Forum

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Town of Marion
Town Administrator Paul F. Dawson
2 Spring St.
Marion, MA 02738

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

*MEDIA ADVISORY*

Town of Marion to Host Recycling Forum

MARION — The Town of Marion is inviting residents and members of the public to attend an informational forum about its residential recycling program next week.

Due to recent rising costs in the recycling industry as a whole, town officials would like to provide residents with a refresher course on proper recycling as a way to try and keep costs low for the town-wide service.

“The purpose of the forum is to give our residents a refresher on recycling and provide helpful tips,” Town Administrator Paul Dawson said. “We want make sure that residents are recycling properly, which helps to keep our trash dumping costs down overall.”

WHEN:

Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m.

WHERE:

Marion Music Hall, 164 Front St.

WHAT:

The featured speaker of the event will be Patti Howard, a Community Outreach Coordinator for Covanta Energy.

Howard will be showing those in attendance what items are considered to be proper recyclables and ways to avoid putting “contaminated” items in the the recycling bin.

Some contaminated items include:

  • Plastic bags of any kind
  • Containers with food residue on them/in them
  • Frozen food containers
  • Diapers

Items that are deemed to be contaminated can be rejected by recycling centers. Those rejected items then need to be discarded through the solid waste stream. The more items that are rejected, the more the costs increase for the transportation and dumping of trash.

Marion uses a single-stream recycling program, where all types of recyclables are collected curbside each week.

Town officials are encouraging proper recycling in an effort to reduce what is being put in the solid waste stream and thereby decrease the cost per ton of disposing the materials.

“This is something that is impacting communities across the country,” Town Administrator Dawson said. “While it is not a major issue for us now, we want to stay ahead of things and hope that residents will be diligent in their recycling efforts going forward.”

 

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Marion Police Sergeant Placed on Administrative Leave

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For Immediate Release

Friday, Aug. 10, 2018

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

Marion Police Sergeant Placed on Administrative Leave

MARION — Town Administrator Paul Dawson and Police Chief John Garcia are releasing the following statement to the public:

“The Marion Police Department has been made aware of a multi-jurisdictional investigation in Bristol County that may impact a member of this department and his conduct related to the performance of his duties as a Marion Police Officer.

“While not the target of the investigation, information received by Chief John Garcia has led him to place Sgt. Jeffrey Tripp on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation and an internal investigation and review of the facts and circumstances by the Marion Police Department.

“The initial investigation is being conducted by a Bristol County law enforcement task force and the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office. The Town of Marion is cooperating fully with that investigation. Unfortunately, we cannot release any further information at this time, as we do not wish to compromise the ongoing investigation. Additional information will be released when it becomes available. We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as this process is completed.”

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