Mattapoisett Selectman Paul Silva will not be seeking reelection. On February 1, Silva reached out to The Wanderer to share his decision.
“I’m one that believes in term limits, and I’ve been a selectman for 12 years,” Silva said with a small chuckle. “It’s time for new blood.”
Silva has given his time and talents to the community in other ways over a civic career that spans the last 20 years.
Beginning with the Marine Advisory Board, Silva was then appointed to the Finance Committee during a time when stabilization funds were thin at best. “Over the years, we’ve been able to establish stabilization funds for such things as our local schools and OPEB.” Where once there might have been a few thousand dollars in reserve, “We’ve got about $2 million now.”
In deciding to run for selectman, Silva hoped that his background on the other committees, including the Old Rochester Regional School Committee, and his deep understanding of municipal financial processes would earn him a chance from the voters.
Silva said that the community’s biggest issue 12 years ago was the lack of reserve funds, but he also pointed to the low economy in and around 2008. One large project that helped the community begin a foundation for stabilization funding was the Bay Club subdivision. But even earlier, while he was on FinCom, revenue was an issue. “We felt strongly that any new dollars coming from the expanded tax base should be put in stabilization funds,” he said.
Looking forward, Silva sees a town whose financial standing is in a much better place than it was 12 years ago, but new revenue sources will still be important. “Maybe with the improvements to the Industrial Drive, more businesses will come here.”
Silva also said it would be necessary to consider whether or not combining the local elementary schools can be done. “If we can move all the students to Old Hammondtown School, then Center School could become the new town hall with expanded space for senior activities,” he explained. Silva pointed to the need to lower the overall operating costs of the two schools. He also said that it was time to look at the Water and Sewer Departments and find a singular, centralized location for those operations versus the hodgepodge of buildings, including rented spaces that are now utilized.
Regarding his involvement with the Mattapoisett River Valley Water District, where he held the position of treasurer for 12 years and currently sits on the commission, Silva said the jury is out on his continued participation.
Silva said one of the reasons he is announcing his decision at this time is to give potential candidates adequate time to begin their pursuit of the seat he will be vacating come May.
Silva’s parents came to Mattapoisett many decades ago when he was a small child. They built a summer home on Mattapoisett Neck where, in 1985, he and his wife, Phyllis, would also build, making it their year-round home and raising their son, Jared, who attended the local elementary schools.
And what about the future? After giving many hours each week to community service for two decades, would stepping down as selectman leave a big hole in his calendar? Not for Silva, who said, “Phyllis and I have plans to travel back to the Azores and the European continent, and we’d like to finish our trip to Madeira.” Silva was in Portugal last March when the couple had to return home due to the pandemic. “We were a third of the way through our trip when that hit.… We caught the next-to-the-last flight home!” The couple also hopes to buy a second home in the Azores where they can spend the winter months.
By Marilou Newell