The future of the Holy Ghost Grounds was a major discussion topic when the Mattapoisett Select Board met on Tuesday night. After hearing from voters at the Spring Special Town Meeting that planning was overdue on the 8-acre parcel located off Park Street, the board delved into which goes first: a plan or a public meeting to collect public feedback on uses for the town-owned property.
There was considerable exchange over who should serve on a committee that will be charged with investigating the lay of the land to ascertain what type of modifications can be done, including ideas on best uses such as playgrounds, ball fields, a dog park, or bike path, to name a few.
The board ultimately concurred that development of a committee should come first and that the makeup of that committee should include a member of the Planning Board, Recreation Department, Capital Planning, someone with interest and/or knowledge regarding Fremon Bauer’s proposed dog-park project, and a person 55 or older and recommended by the Council on Aging. Once the committee is established, the Select Board will then select two more committee members from the pool of letters of interest received from residents.
The board also thought that ad-hoc members of the committee would be needed, drawing from members of the Highway Department, Police Department, Finance Committee and Administrator’s office.
Bonne DeSousa, a former Open Space committee member (a committee currently not active) asked, as she had on the previous evening at the town’s Planning Board meeting, if a public information meeting could be arranged so that residents could voice their opinions and learn more about the property. But Select Board member Jordan Collyer thinks putting a committee in place first is necessary.
Tyler Macallister, chairman of the Select Board, thinks the committee could develop a survey for gathering public input on uses for the parcel. Collyer said that public outreach will be a big part of the process but that discussions should be focused for the best use of everyone’s time and talent.
In discussing possible uses, Town Administrator Mike Lorenco said that a full study of the property has not taken place but that it has water, a sewer stub, and the structure on the property has had roof repairs.
Anyone interested in being considered as a committee member should send a letter of interest to Lorenco at Town Hall.
Earlier in the meeting, the Select Board met with Kathleen Costello, administrator of Assessing, to set the 2023 tax classification. Costello reported that the total real and personal property assessed value for FY23 is $2,392,712,342, an increase of 13% over FY22. The average single-family home’s assessed value now stands at $658,604, a 14% increase over FY22.
Costello’s report further stated that single-family homes will have an average tax bill of $7,409.30, a 3% increase over FY22. The report also included that total revenue to be raised by both tax and nontax sources for FY23 is $39,029,816.85, including Enterprise funds, an increase of 1.4% from FY22.
The Select Board voted to stay with a single tax classification versus one for residential and one for commercial. “Only 6% is commercial,” Costello pointed out of all taxes collected.
Costello previously informed the Board of Assessors that she would be retiring. Chairman of the Board of Assessors Ray Andrews publicly thanked Costello for her 11 years of dedicated service to the town.
Collyer said, “Your candor has always been appreciated, you are best in class.” Macallister echoed those sentiments, saying, “It was always a pleasure to go into your office.”
Costello responded, “It’s been my honor.” She thanked her staff for their work as well as the Board of Assessors. A search for her replacement has been underway by the Board of Assessors, Lorenco said, noting that Costello may stay on as a consultant during the transition after her December 16 departure date.
In other business, the Select Board approved and signed numerous licenses for 2023, running the gamut of restaurants to automobile dealers. They also voted to appoint Jan Brodie as an alternate to the Zoning Board of Appeals and agreed that Select Board member Jodi Bauer should represent the board during the sale of the retired Fire Station.
Lorenco said that he has been researching the charge (responsibilities and expectations) for the Tree Committee but as of yet had not found such a document. He said he would continue to try and locate the charge; barring that he said the board could write one.
In a Right to First Refusal vote, the Select Board voted to not exercise that right on parcels totaling approximately 25 acres on Assessors Map 21, Lot 7, and Map 21, Lot 40. They voted to approve the installation of two new utility poles at 113 North Street, an application filed by Eversource. They also approved a request by the Mobil Station, 37 County Road, for an amendment to the existing fuel-storage tanks.
Under News and Announcements, Lorenco reported that a joint meeting will be held with the Marine Advisory Board on Tuesday, December 20, at 5:30 pm to discuss design options for repairs and improvements for Long Wharf.
And, last but not least, Lorenco invited one and all to the Holiday in the Park on Saturday, December 10, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm, with a tree lighting, local food tastings, music and Santa.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board is scheduled for Saturday, December 10, at 5:30 pm.
Mattapoisett Select Board
By Marilou Newell