With the lush, verdant days of spring and summer advancing and as the evening sky cleared and then filled with the purple haze of sunset, the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen met on April 12 to discuss trees and trails.
Coming before the selectmen was Tree Committee Chairman Sandy Herring and Tree Warden Roland Cote to talk about the upcoming Arbor Day celebration on April 29.
Selectman Tyler Macallister read the Arbor Day proclamation, which noted Mattapoisett’s commitment to tree-lined roadways and opportunities for the residents of the town to learn more about all things trees.
Herring said the Tree Committee had identified two locations they believed would be ideal for new tree plantings. One location, she said, was Shipyard Park. The other was the small garden area adjacent to the Land Trust’s Munro Property where the new kayak racks are located.
While Herring expressed excitement at the possibility of planting a prominent black cherry or black tupelo in this prime location, the selectmen were reticent to place a tree in what they described as “congested” public space.
“Why can’t we focus on what has been taken down?” Macallister said, while Selectman Paul Silva asked, “Is Ned’s Point a possibility?
Herring said they had not considered Ned’s Point.
Both selectmen felt that Shipyard Park is so heavily utilized by a variety of community events that adding a potentially large tree would decrease the openness of the space.
“I don’t think we want to add anything there,” Macallister told Herring.
Silva thought that the Tree Committee should look at replacing trees that have been removed throughout the village area by the tree warden or by repairs taking place on roadways and sidewalks throughout the historic village neighborhood.
Herring countered that it was important to think about successive plantings in public areas so as trees matured and lifespans ended or storms destroyed older trees, newer trees would maintain the green context. She also said that it was the committee’s intention to look at village plantings as well and that a survey had been completed on existing tree inventory in the village.
Silva and Macallister were also concerned that harbor side vistas would be compromised if trees were planted in Shipyard Park and on Water Street across from 1 and 3 Water Street. They said that if the Tree Committee gained the agreement of homeowners at those locations, then a small Japanese cherry tree Herring was proposing might be acceptable for that location.
Herring said Harbormaster Jill Simmons wanted to donate a Japanese cherry tree to the town and had hoped it might be planted on the Town Hall property at the corner of Main and Church Streets. However, the Women’s Club had already been promised that location for a magnolia tree they were donating.
Herring said she had discussed the wharf-side location with Simmons, who thought that location was acceptable for her gift. But, what about the neighbors?
“It is always going to be a hindrance, we run into … a lot of resistance from people whether it’s a water view or not” Herring said. “We need to take a position that we want a green canopy over our heads.”
Silva reasserted that a large tree at Shipyard Park wasn’t going to work, while Macallister said, as a courtesy to the neighbors that might be affected by a tree planted in their line of sight, a letter made sense.
The selectmen offered to send a letter to the homeowners living across from the small park at the top of the wharf on Water Street and, if their agreement was secured, then Simmons’ gift could be planted there.
The tree from the Women’s Club for the Town Hall was approved.
Town Administrator Michael Gagne reminded the public that voter registration was open until April 19 at the town clerk’s office or could be done online at www.mattpoisett.net. He said that to participate in Town Meeting on May 9 at 6:30 pm at ORRHS, residents had to be registered voters. He said the warrant was closed and that there will most likely be fewer than 30 articles for the voters to act on during Town Meeting.
Gagne also said that Earth Day celebrations would take place on April 23 at the Fairhaven Council on Aging between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm with a variety of outdoor and indoor activities including refreshments.
Gagne also invited residents to participate in the ongoing development of a Municipal Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. He said a draft of the document would be available for public comment on the town’s website between April 13 and May 25. During the May 26 meeting of the selectmen, all comments would be reviewed. He urged the public to make recommendations in the process of creating the plan that could potentially garner grant money for funding a finished plan.
Town Hall will be closed on Monday, April 18 for Patriot’s Day.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen is scheduled for April 26 at 7:00 pm in the town hall conference room.
By Marilou Newell
There is a beautiful fork in the road just before the High school at the end of Aucoot road that would benefit from a beautiful flowering tree. It is the entrance to the Town from the Cape area.