As Mattapoisett’s Finance Committee nears the end of its hard work preparing for the spring town meeting, they met on April 9 with various department heads to ask questions pertinent to capital funding requests.
First up was John DeSousa, Chairman of the Community Preservation Committee. As he had done at the selectmen’s meeting the night before, DeSousa gave a presentation that outlined the year-long work the committee has now completed, which included the development of a master plan. The master plan contains firm guidelines on the process for requesting funds from the CPC, the system for grading or prioritizing the requests, and the types of requests that may be requested. He said that committee members had also participated in training at the state level to become more familiar with this relatively new funding source of community projects. DeSousa explained that the Community Preservation Act, which recently underwent some rule changes, now allows the CPC to accept donations from the public.
In February, the CPC voted to accept all seven requested projects and bring them to town meeting where voters will decide the final fate of each. Those projects are: Barlow Cemetery – $3,627 for fencing repairs and general maintenance; Mattapoisett Historical Society/Museum – $16,000 for new cataloging system of historical documents; Buzzards Bay Coalition – $96,000 for land acquisition at Nasketucket Bay; town wharf – $49,000 for masonry repairs; Bike Path Committee – $39,000 for engineering fees for Phase 1B; town beach bath house – $50,000 for repairs including handicap accessibility structural improvements; and Recreation Department – $55,000 for a tot lot adjacent to the tennis courts at Center School. A lead person from each organization that requested funding will lobby for their project at town meeting. The CPC cannot initiate a project; it can only review requests they receive and either accept them based on specific criteria or reject them.
Chairman of Capital Planning Chuck McCullough was next to give his committee’s presentation of capital expenses received from various departments for 2015 budget consideration. During his presentation, Police Chief Mary Lyons was asked to explain the need for a new utility vehicle. She explained that this would be a SUV-style cruiser of the type now being ordered versus a sedan style. The Finance Committee members also asked about the need for a new ambulance. Chief Lyons explained that neither Tobey Hospital in Wareham nor St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford is designated as a trauma center by the state. This means that trauma victims must now be transported to Rhode Island Hospital. She said that transports to Rhode Island are about twice a week and add many additional miles to older ambulances.
The committee also questioned why the estimated costs for a new fire station – part of the five-year capital plan – had gone from $2.5 million to $3.5 million. Fire Chief Andrew Murray was on hand to explain that costs for building a new fire station had increased from when he completed researching similar structures. They also questioned him on the requests for repairs to fire suppression vehicles. Chief Murray explained that the requested sums for repairs would be good investments in the fire engines, giving them many more years of services rather than purchasing new vehicles that won’t fit in the current fire station facility.
McCullough completed his presentation by presenting the full list of funding requests prioritized by Capital Planning. Those requests are: (1) fire department’s Engine 4 repairs – $15,000; (2) police utility vehicle – $35,000; (3) library window repairs – $7,000; (4) fire department Engine 2 refurbishment – $125,000; (5) new ambulance – $200,000; (6) local schools combined computer infrastructure upgrades – $49,000; (7) local schools technology upgrades – $30,000; (8) Hammond Street parking – $18,500; (9) local schools playground repairs – $21,000; (10) beach raft repairs – $10,000; (11) town hall office equipment – $13,400; (12) road sign project – $22,000; (13) highway department building repairs – $40,000; (14) library generator – $50,000; (15) fire department station vehicle – $36,000; (16) highway department utility vehicle – $50,000; (17) new math curriculum – $49,000; and (18) new police cruiser – $32,500.
Town Administrator Mike Gagne said that voters would most likely not fund the full list, noting that possibly only the top six items would pass. FinCom member Pat Donoghue questioned if items that had been given a prioritized position could be taken out of sequence. She was reminded that policy had been changed to discourage funding a need that might enjoy favoritism with a specific group, rather than what was best for the community at large. Gagne said that only the items that could be funded from free cash or other approved sources would be included in the town meeting warrant. That is part of the work that FinCom will undertake leading up to the printing of the town meeting warrant.
Nick Nicholson, Superintendent of the Water and Sewer Department (an enterprise business), was last to appear before the FinCom members. He shared that the new water meters are a great improvement for the town’s ‘cash registers.’ They not only improve the recorded amount of water consumed by each customer, but they also identify leaks and other problems that might otherwise go undetected. He talked to them about the need to purchase more sewer capacity from Fairhaven for future sewer needs when such areas as Harbor Beach, Aucoot Cove, Brandt Island Beach, and Pease Point are added. He also said that there are plans to expand the sewer system to the north along North Street all the way to the end of Industrial Drive.
Nicholson said that he will be seeking authorization to sell property located inside Bay Club and at 33 Church Street to offset the cost of constructing a new water and sewer facility. He noted that such a building would consolidate the current fragmentation of the department and also eliminate rent payments for the 19 County Road office building.
Nicholson went on to explain that phase 3 of the water supply development will be delayed about a year until the new water and sewer rates are in place and the impact of the increase can be evaluated.
The next meeting of the Finance Committee is April 15 at 6:30 pm.
By Marilou Newell
