Before the voters of Mattapoisett could get to the 28 warrant articles, Town Moderator John Eklund invited Finance Committee Chairman Pat Donoghue to make comments.
After thanking the Town’s department heads for their careful use of budgets and “watching the pennies,” she then launched into her “disappointment” at the ORR budget process and “at the way the budget went.”
For several minutes, Donoghue expounded upon skyrocketing health care costs and the necessity for the school district to make “serious cuts” while continuing to “eat up reserves to fund operating expenses.”
“They are at risk,” she said, “if unusual circumstances arise.”
Donoghue also said that the difference between what the town has to pay when students leave the school system to attend vocational schools versus what the town gets when school choice students come into the system puts a burden on the budget. She noted that the town pays upwards of $20,000 for students to attend school outside the district, while the district only receives $5,000 when students opt in.
On the subject of new teachers, Donoghue said that a social worker and guidance counselor could not be funded, although their services were much needed for the growing problems students are manifesting. She said this placed an undue burden on the counselors presently at the school, taking them away from assisting students who are trying to make serious choices about their future.
Finally, Donoghue said that rising OPEB obligations, which stand at $20 million, were not being funded at all.
“This leads me to think we are not doing all that we should…. [I’m not] completely comfortable with Old Rochester.” She ended her comments by adding, “The teachers have not taken a reduction.”
These comments prompted ORR School Committee member Cynthia Johnson to call out “hold” during the reading of Article 2, General Operating Budget.
When invited to speak, Johnson took the podium at the front of the auditorium to respond to all that Donoghue had said.
“I’m feeling overwhelmed by Pat’s comments about the school budget,” Johnson began. “We work hard to be careful about it….”
Johnson said the committee had set up three accounts to begin addressing the OPEB problem and another for emergency planning and have put together a five-year plan.
Johnson also defended the school choice program saying, “You still need to have a building and teachers,” calling it value added, as well as enriching to the students.
Regarding Donoghue’s comments, Johnson responded, “The comments this evening have been a great disappointment.”
Before the voters could move on, Town Administrator Mike Gagne asked to speak. He said that after six budget cycles, this year’s planning was “a good process with candid conversations.” He said a good plan had been developed but that “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” and congratulated the committee for pulling together a capital plan and a five-year plan.
“I would agree with Cindy,” he concluded, “It’s not perfect, but better than past years.”
Selectman Paul Silva, the town’s representative on the ORR budget committee said, “Mattapoisett supported the budget with the additional art teacher, social worker, and guidance counselor … the other two towns voted ‘nay’.”
Article 2, the $24,696,873 general operating budget, was then passed.
There was little comment and no controversy as the voters then swiftly approved Articles 3 through 21, but they hit a speed bump when it came to Article 22 – Park Street Acquisition Using Community Preservation Funds.
Robert Saunders and Doug Schneider felt it was an unnecessary burden for the taxpayers with its $500,000 price tag, although the cost would be paid for through funding by the Community Preservation Act.
As Community Preservation Committee Chairman John DeCosta explained, $100,000 would come from the CPC’s budgeted reserve and the balance would be paid via bonds also from this account, not the general operating budget of the town.
Saunders thought that by passing the article, the town would be giving the YMCA – the current owners of the property – a donation. Schneider called it a “want” not a necessity, noting that the town already had hundreds of acres in open space and recreation and questioning, “Do we need this?”
Gagne said the acquisition was in line with the town’s open space master plan to conserve land north of Route 6 and that it was contiguous to the railroad easement, the Phase 2 bike path location.
Selectman Jordan Collyer said, “It’s a tremendous opportunity,” and called the large parcel a place where ball fields and other recreational activities could take place along with a senior center at some point in the future.
For the article to carry, a 2/3 vote was required. It was a close call, but the hand count proved the appetite was there: 70 for the purchase, 25 opposed.
The voters also agreed to purchase land in the Mattapoisett River Valley near fresh water sources and wells, Article 23, part of the Tinkham family property off Acushnet Road for the town’s share of $65,000. The balance of the funds will come from matching sums from Fairhaven and Marion, and a variety of grants.
Voters also agreed to purchase land adjacent to the police station on Route 6 and Church Street, Article 25, for $295,000. Long-range plans include using this acquisition for the future home of a new fire station.
In the end, the voters passed all 28 warrant articles and three special town meeting articles.
By Marilou Newell