The Center School clock stopped for part of the summer because the floor beneath its bell has sagged enough to interfere with the clock’s drive shaft, longtime clock keeper Ray Andrews told the Select Board on September 22.
Andrews got the clock running again in late July, but said his adjustment was temporary. After 128 years of supporting the bell and its carriage, the floor has dropped below its original position. Rainwater can no longer drain from the tower as designed.
“We need to get some kind of a permanent fix on the sagging floor,” Andrews said.
The board approved $2,500 from its Building and Grounds budget for an engineering design and materials list. Andrews plans to use those documents to seek at least two contractor bids, then apply for Community Preservation Act funding for the full repair. A possible repair would use cables to gradually lift and support the floor.
Andrews said money donated for the clock is restricted to maintaining its mechanism and hands and cannot be used for structural work on the town-owned building.
Gus Silveira, 92, asked the board to consider a monument honoring him and his father. Speaking about his long connection to Mattapoisett, he said the town had given back to him more than he had given it. Board members said they would look at an existing monument at Ned’s Point before discussing his request at a future meeting. They took no vote Tuesday.
Recreation Director Marissa Hughes reported that the town ran seven weeks of summer camp at Center School, staffed by 20 counselors. The camp expanded from four age groups to five, allowing 6- and 7-year-olds to participate in separate groups. Children visited the beach and library, took tennis lessons and had the option of swim lessons, which returned this summer.
The town beach was staffed for eight weeks, Hughes said. Looking ahead, the Recreation Department has expanded its fall after-school offerings from 14 programs last year to 21 this year, with 30 to 70 children participating each day. A girls’ volleyball league planned for January already has 26 participants signed up. Hughes said she hopes to reach more junior high students, an age group that has been difficult to draw into recreation programs.
The board also discussed a Mattapoisett Affordable Housing Trust that was approved by Town Meeting but has not been staffed. Town Administrator Mike Lorenco said a November 17 workshop with Barrett Consulting will explain how the trust could be organized and what serving on it would involve. The town plans to invite residents and committee members before recruiting volunteers.
Board members considered how to make recordings of town meetings more consistently available. Lorenco said some boards post recordings while others do not. Members discussed developing a policy for the Select Board’s own meetings and asking other boards what equipment, training or meeting space they need. No policy was adopted.
The board approved all-alcohol, common victualler and entertainment licenses for Kokobo’s Coastal Cantina at 20 County Road. The entertainment license permits four televisions and live, non-amplified acoustic music during business hours. The applicant hopes to open in mid-October or early November.
Water Street is closed near Town Beach for a culvert replacement expected to take up to two months, Lorenco announced. Drivers can reach the beach area from North Street. Oakland Street construction is expected to begin in October and last at least a month.
Select Board member Nicole Doyon Lynch plans to hold two office hours at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library in October. The first is October 7 from 10:00 am to noon. Residents can stop in to share concerns or ideas, and details of both sessions will be posted on the town website.
Mattapoisett Select Board
By Jeanne Hopkins