With a short meeting agenda, the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen met on December 23, primarily to hold an executive session. As a result, the public portion of the proceedings was only long enough to include the following meaningful bits.
Town Administrator Mike Lorenco advised the selectmen that the Finance Committee would soon begin meeting to discuss budgets in advance of a Spring Annual Town Meeting. Continuing on that thought, Lorenco also said that the Old Rochester Regional School Committee may soon begin its budget process and that he would ascertain whether or not those deliberations are public.
Selectman Paul Silva reminded all that during the delayed 2020 Spring Annual Town Meeting, which was ultimately held in August, several voters asked about the school budgeting process and expressed a desire to attend those meetings. As such, Silva wanted any public meetings held by the school committees to be published so voters would be aware they were taking place. Lorenco was asked to follow up.
While hindsight is always 20-20, New England weather oftentimes leaves the forecasters standing in sunshine when they have predicted rain. Such was the case with the forecasted hurricane-force winds expected for Christmas Day. But during the Wednesday before Christmas, erring on the side of caution was needed.
Lorenco reported that Eversource had sent notification that all of its employees would be at the ready, with vacation and other time off canceled, in the event that weather forecasters were correct. To that end, Silva asked that outdoor holiday decorations installed on town property be removed to prevent them from becoming “projectiles.” As we now know, our Christmas present from Mother Nature was just some much-needed rain.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen is scheduled for Tuesday, January 12, at 6:30 pm.
Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen
By Marilou Newell