FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2021
VOL. 134, NO. 10
PRICE: $1.25
Joppa Flats & Decoys
BRIEFLY
Local BOH Update for COVID Cases: July 28 Report Local Boards of Health (BOH) reported this week that the town of Manchester has 247 residents who tested positive for COVID-19, with three “active.” In Essex, Health Administrator Erin Kirchner reports 196 positive cases with zero active, exactly the same as last month. Kirchner attributes this to a high overall town vaccine rate, with 72 percent of Essex residents age 12+ who have received at least one dose. MBTS reports 76.8 percent of residents are vaccinated. That said, Greater Cape Ann Community Collaborative is offering “Vax And Snax” program, where anyone who gets their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine (12+) at the Essex Library receives a $10 gift certificate to a local restaurant. Stay vigilant.
I
t started as a charming local mystery. Shelagh and Jack Schylling found nine antique duck boats and set out to “rehome” them. But when she met with them, writer Olivia Turner found a bigger story, one of a love for carving, preservation of an important boat form and the art of Merrimack River Valley waterfowl hunting. Oh yes, and a bit of actor Daniel Day Lewis too. The common thread to it all is Bob Brophy, a renowned Essex duck decoy carver whose life’s work has captivated locals for years. “Brophy’s Birds” are intricate likenesses of ducks and seabirds from the Northeast and more exotic locations. His passion is remarkable. So is the story of friendship between Brophy and the Schyllings, seen here in this photo by Turner. Read the story, Page 5.
Appointments All Around Monday night’s joint Board of Selectmen and Planning Board meeting in Manchester had one agenda item: vet and select an interim replacement for Gary Russell’s vacated seat on the Planning Board. But it belied all the work the BOS has been doing filling vacancies on many volunteer boards and committees. Unlike in years past, a healthy number of residents have stepped forward and the town hopes that enthusiasm continues. So, this month, here are the new appointed members: Melanie DiBiasio, Welcome to Manchester Committee ( 2 yrs.), Marlene Dolan, DIP (1 yr.), David Saunders, Bike & Ped (3 yrs.), Darcy MorrisBike & Ped ( 3 yrs.). And of course, Laura Tenny was selected by an 8-2 vote to serve Russell’s ramaining time on the Planning Board until the May election.
Plans For Black Earth It’s been a long road for Black Earth Composting, which has provided curbside compost pick up to MBTS for four years. The company has been operating on a town-owned site in the Limited Commercial District and, as its expanded, the constraints of the site have become clear. A plan has long been in the pipeline to move the operation to another, more appropriate town-owned site: the transfer station on Pine Street. After an RFP, the town is now on the verge of giving Black Earth a longterm contract to build and manage the new $1.5 million state pf tje art facility there. Andrew Brousseau, an owner of Black Earth who grew up in Manchester, presented plans to the Bike & Ped Committee last week to share details for the company’s plans. He received a good reception. Page 3.
Regional Dispatch Considered For MBTS
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he pros and cons of migrating Manchester local police and fire dispatch services to a state-run, regional public safety operation were explored at a public hearing that addressed public safety quality, cost controls, needed technology upgrades, and the value of local dispatchers with local knowledge. It also highlighted the current operating differences between Manchester’s fire and police departments. Approximately 70 people attended the first of two planned Board of Selectmen public forums on the issue. Police Chief Todd Fitzgerald, Fire Chief Jason Cleary, and Finance Committee members were also on hand. Manchester’s current dispatch, said Town Administrator Greg Federspiel, is handled by an “excellent staff doing an excellent job. But Manchester is facing jumps in costly police training mandates from the state as well as expensive upgrades to records management systems and computer aided dispatch software. The town, Federspiel said, must rethink how and where it spends its money. “We are at a crossroad,”
he said. Dispatch configuration in Manchester costs $335,772 per year currently, after a 911 offset grant. One baseline dispatcher is on duty “24/7,” serving incoming calls for police, fire department and the DPW during off hours. In addition, three fulltime dispatchers work one of three daily shifts from Monday to Friday. Weekends are covered by part-time dispatchers, reserve officers or regular officers working overtime. For large incidents, a second dispatcher is called in, typically within 10-15 minutes. Dispatchers also serve as lobby receptionists, although in person visits to the station are infrequent. Manchester’s Fire Department has no lobby personnel. Chief Cleary has publicly said he supports regionalized dispatch. Chief Fitzgerald, who grew up in Manchester, has not supported regionalized dispatch. But, said Fitzgerald, “this is not a fire versus police issue.” Above all, he said, his department and town residents deserve clarity. “No matter what happens, and Cleary would agree, our records management system and com-
When these regional service agreements go forward, and they go wrong, it’s because of misaligned expectations. puter aided dispatch software has to be addressed. Whatever decision we make has to be confident. (Indecision is) not good for morale, or a good working relationship between the two departments.” A regionalized dispatch model tends to benefit smaller towns, giving them personnel, they wouldn’t be able to hire themselves. Currently, North Andover and Ipswich are considering joining the NSR911 center. But others, like Georgetown, that are sized similarly to Manchester have decided to go it alone and are happy with the decision. The prospect of moving to North Shore Regional 911 (NSR911) is a tempting one for the BOS. The state is offering Manchester the service free for the first 10 years to join the four other towns (Essex, Wenham, Middleton, Topsfield and
MBTS Walkway To Parking, Facilities
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arking and public restrooms have been a perennial thorn for downtown retailers and restaurants who say addressing these challenges will go a long way to support their businesses. Parking has been an issue for decades, specifically with the town trying—unsuccessfully—to create a path from public parking behind Town Hall to Beach Street. But starting a year ago, it was the First Parish Church that offered a glimmer of hope, by saying it was open to a public walkway passing over land behind its building on Chapel Street. John Round (not yet a Selectman, but serving
on the church’s board) took the lead for the church, and Eli Boling took the lead for the town. Then, at a meeting with downtown businesses, Jim Brown stepped up and offered the back of the Cape Ann Savings Bank building on Beach Street as a connector. Seven months later, the path is under construction and it’s beautiful, running under a chestnut tree and along the Magic Year’s playground. Also, along the path, the DPW is installing temporary public restrooms that, once complete, will be open for use through October. Another temporary facility will be in the Harbor’s Point parking lot.
Amesbury) in the consortium. The center uses a minimum of four 24/7 dispatchers, based on call volume. (More towns, more calls would prompt the center to add dispatchers.) The dispatch center would also cover harbormaster 911 calls, and off hours DPW calls. Regional 911 cell service is a separate service from regionalized local dispatch. Many opponents of regional dispatch at the forum emphasized the value of local “small town” familiarity that comes when local personnel services local communities. “I can’t see how a regional system could possibly know nooks and crannies and postmarks (required) to quickly respond to and identify a situation in the street or with a family in very short order,” said resident Anton Kobis. Mark Bruno is a Manchester resident and a lieutenant with the Amesbury Fire Dept. He said it’s no secret that Amesbury hasn’t been “exactly happy” with NSR911, although the town remains in the consortium. ...(Continued on page 11)
Scott Energy Celebrates 75 Years In Business
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ill and brother Ed Scott of Scott Energy grew up in Manchester, and began working alongside their father, Edward P. Scott, Sr. from the age of teenagers, and over the years they’ve done all there is to do in a family-owned commercial and home company. Well, last month the company hit a remarkable milestone: 75 years in business. Much as changed in all that time. Technologies have changed dramatically. The company has grown from a one-truck business in Manchester to a fleeted one in Gloucester serving customers from Lynn to Haverhill to Cape Ann. One thing hasn’t changed. It’s still a family business, and it’s still run that way. Page 8.
Weekly Weather Chart Saturday 31 July
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Sunday 1 Aug
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Monday 2 Aug
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Tuesday 3 Aug
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Wednesday 4 Aug
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Thursday 5 Aug
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Friday 6 Aug
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Gavel to Gavel This Week’s Town Meetings Tuesday, August 3 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Manchester Town Hall is Open to the Public: Masks and social distancing are required. Public hours are 9 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 9 a.m. - 6:15 p.m. on Thursday. Essex Town Hall opened without restrictions on June 1. All board and committee meetings continue to be conducted virtually. Details on thecricket.com
Essex Planning Board Wednesday, August 4 7:30 p.m.
MERSD School Comm Workshop & Business Meeting
Essex Board of Health Thursday, August 5, 7 p.m.
Essex ConComm Tuesday, August 3 7:30 p.m. Essex ZBA Wednesday, August 4 7 p.m.
IN THIS ISSUE Briefs...........................................................................1 Police Notes................................................................2 Town News.................................................................3 Library & Letters.......................................................4 Calendar......................................................................6 Essex Echo..................................................................7 Real Estate..........................................................10, 12
