On a sultry July 11, the Mattapoisett Town Hall conference room was packed to overflowing as Board of Selectmen Chairman Paul Silva opened the public hearing on the application of the Town Wharf General Store, 10 Water Street, for a wine and beer beverage package store license.
Owner and manager Christopher Demakis explained the decision to expand the current merchandise offering to include beer and wine. “We want to offer beer and wine especially for people coming off boats,” he began. “A small offering, not a full package store.” He said that his customers had expressed interest in having these beverages available and it seemed natural to offer them.
But two residents and one Route 6 liquor storeowner took exception to Demakis’ application.
After Selectman Jordan Collyer read letters from abutters Randy and Dawn Smith and George and Maureen Butler, the two couples were asked to share their concerns.
The Butlers expressed concern that if these beverages were sold within the village district, it would draw more vehicle traffic and people into an already congested area. They said that delivery trucks were already a problem and would become more problematic. They also were worried about what would happen in the future if the business were to be sold. The Butlers also complimented the store for its current business model.
The Smiths also complimented the business owners while voicing concern that children would be exposed to alcoholic beverages.
Resident Karen Fields pointed out that grocery stores in the local area now sell beer and wine and children were going into those establishments.
Ed Lima, owner of the Village Package Store, also voiced concern. “There are already three package stores in a one-mile area.” He presented the selectmen with a petition signed by his customers discouraging issuance of a permit to the village business. Lima said that his business depended on the summer visitors and that by approving this application his ability to stay viable was threatened. “I depend on the summer to stay in the black.”
Randy Smith said, “We are trying hard to protect the village for the residents.”
Dawn Smith asked, “Who are we protecting? … It’s your duty to protect the neighborhoods.”
Peter Mello, 12 Water Street, supported the application. Mello told the selectmen, “We’re the only parents in the neighborhood.… We support them.…” He added that he’s comfortable with the proposal.
And while both the Butlers and the Smiths attempted to paint the application as one that would change the general store into a package store, Demakis said, “It’s not going to be a package store…. We wouldn’t do anything to hurt the neighborhood…. We are going to monitor this.”
Town Administrator Michael Gagne said he had spoken to the building commissioner who confirmed that the current special permit the store holds covers the application; in fact, the special permit does not state what sort of merchandize the business may or may not sell. “They are within their rights without going before zoning,” he said.
Attorney Jeffery Sanders, representing the applicant, said that of the five wine and beer licenses the town may issue, none were presently in use – this would be the first.
Highway Surveyor Barry Denham shared, “The definition of a village is a place where people live and have commercial activity.” He said that businesses in the village district had been part of the Town’s Master Plan since 1988.
Betty Hill and Tom Copps, neighbors in the village district, supported the application.
After closing the hearing, both selectmen agreed the applicant was within his rights to sell wine and beer, thus approving the request.
Moving on to other business, the selectmen met with Carlos DeSousa of the Marine Advisory Board and Harbormaster Jill Simmons to review the near final proposal of changes for the waterways rules and regulations.
They spent considerable time reviewing the updated document, including reviewing questions that were submitted by the public during the comment period. Such questions as to the legality of renting out moorings, grandfathered status, mooring transfers, and the need for storm moorings were all discussed.
Agreeing to a variety of text changes to improve and clarify the language, the selectmen also voted to move forward with billing cycle changes and wharf contracts in advance of adopting the full document. During the August meeting, they plan to finalize and accept the new waterways rules and regulations, a document upgrade in the making for the last several years.
Gagne discussed with the selectmen the creation of a new committee to look at the needs of both pedestrians and bicyclists called the Bike-Ped Committee.
Gagne said this committee would consist of nine stakeholders: the highway surveyor, planning director, a member of the police department, a senior citizen, residents who walk and bicycle, SRPEDD representative Bob Burgmann, and a member of the Mattapoisett Land Trust.
The focus of the committee, Gagne explained, would be to develop policy that would lead towards a “complete street” plan that the selectmen could review and that eventually would be adopted.
Bonne DeSousa, who has been a prime mover in working towards a complete street plan as well as spearheading several key areas of the Mattapoisett bike path Phase 1B, wanted to ensure that all neighborhoods would be included when public discussions began.
Collyer said surveys should be conducted and that the committee should be charged with reaching out to all areas of the community. He also said a mission statement should be drafted before their work began.
In other business, Robert Rogers received a certificate of appreciation for his decade long service to the town on several boards and committees. “It was a privilege and pleasure to service the town’s people.”
Also receiving recognition were Horace and Karen Field who have for 40 years allowed students from ORRJHS to use the property they own in Northfield for the annual Survival Experience.
“I really love this program,” Field said, noting that 5,000 students have gone through the program over the decades. He also said he has put things in place that will grant use of the property when he is gone. “I won’t be around forever,” he chuckled.
In closing out his updates, Gagne said the state budget, while needing to be cut and suffering some $700,000 in decreased revenues, was able to fund increases in state aid to schools. “It’s not often that the MMA compliments the legislature,” he said.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen is scheduled for August 8 at 6:30 pm in the town hall conference room.
Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen
By Marilou Newell