As Mattapoisett Town Administrator Michael Gagne and the members of the Finance Committee continue their review and preparation for the Fall Special Town Meeting on November 26, on November 1 they met with Kathleen Costello, administrator of assessing, so that she could present the taxes to be collected for the Town’s newest PILOT program for the Tinkham Hill II solar array.
The Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) plan showed the first payment of $33,804 is planned for 2020, with payments increasing by 2.5% over 14 years for an eventual total sum of $606,070. Costello also said that another “larger” solar array project was in the early stages of planning, but “it would be inappropriate to comment” until the plans are finalized.
Finance Committee Chairman Pat Donoghue said she had heard from several residents of Crystal Spring Road that heavy truck traffic associated with the construction of solar projects in that location had caused damage to the roadway. “There are costs associated with solar,” said Donoghue. “[They’re] not quite as free as they sound.”
Costello defended the solar array developers, saying that she found them to be very responsive any time her office had informed them of construction problems. She said that abutters needed to make Town Hall aware of problems.
Gagne said that concerns over large trucks, possibly associated with construction on Crystal Springs Road, utilizing the one-way stone bridge on River Road had finally prompted action in the form of petitioning the Massachusetts Department of Transportation for a weight restriction.
“We are going to move forward to do what we have to for the DOT,” Gagne confirmed.
It had been reported by neighbors in the area of the bridge that large vehicles attempting to use it had struck it. Surface damage to the interior walls of the structure bore evidence to that fact, they said. If the MassDOT approves the application, the weight restriction would be for vehicles with a maximum weight of 2.5 tons.
Gagne also said that the municipal landfill would be considered for solar panels that might produce energy that could be used to offset electrical costs incurred by schools and municipal buildings. He plans to include an article asking for funds to hire an engineering firm to prepare engineering plans for such a project.
Coming before the committee members requesting a new ambulance was Police Chief Mary Lyons. The discussion circled around the most cost-effective manner to purchase a new ambulance with a price tag hovering around $300,000. Lyons said the plan would include trading in the diesel ambulance, a vehicle that she said was becoming increasingly problematic and out of service on occasion, for a value of $7,000. Gagne said an analysis of the revenue receipts generated by the ambulance service found that over a three-year period approximately $300,000 to $350,000 was billed annually.
Lyons also discussed the need to pay for Mattapoisett’s share of a new digital communications systems shared with Fairhaven and Acushnet in the amount of $150,000.
Regarding the balance of the warrant, Gagne said the selectmen would be reviewing the draft it in the coming days, at which time they would also consider engineering for new senior housing, dredging at the town wharves, sidewalk repairs, drainage improvements in certain neighborhoods, and Mattapoisett’s MS4 Storm Water Permit Compliance.
Other articles in the draft included: a new outboard motor for the Fire Department Boat ($21,000), paving of parking area owned by the Mattapoisett Congregational Church utilized by the Council on Aging ($16,000), supplemental funding for caution lights at the bike path crossing on Mattapoisett Neck and Brandt Island Roads ($35,000), and the purchase of a new pump-out boat ($25,000).
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Finance Committee is tentatively scheduled for November 12 at 6:30 pm in the Town Hall conference room. For confirmation of day and time visit www.mattapoisett.net.
Mattapoisett Finance Committee
By Marilou Newell