What do you get when a think tank invites a dollars-and-cents committee chairman to meet and discuss the future of a town? A marriage of necessity.
On February 2, the Mattapoisett Master Plan Committee met with Chuck McCullough to hear about the work performed by a committee whose primary focus is plotting when and how town departments will fund expenses over $10,000 and project needs 10 years into the future.
McCullough explained that in previous budget planning cycles the Capital Planning Committee accepted departmental fiscal information in less than an investigatory manner, asking questions including how a project would be funded but not necessarily scrutinizing the request itself as to how and why.
The Master Plan Committee was informed about the Capital Planning Committee’s work in identifying infrastructural needs such as culvert replacements, roadway improvements and putting the bike path on Mattapoisett’s 10-year Capital Plan, something that had not been done in prior cycles, leaving the town vulnerable in terms of inadequate planning for major expenses. Now, McCullough explained, the fiscal responsibilities of each municipal department are being aided by more compelling conversations.
McCullough also spent time explaining how decisions are made for new water and sewer lines and upcoming projects such as the replacement of the Eel Pond sewer line to Fairhaven.
The Master Plan Committee members asked probing questions to better understand the implications of expanding sewer capacity, noting that sewer lines are not provided for the development of subdivision tracts. McCullough, who has been a town consultant to the Water and Sewer Department for a number of years, discussed the process of engaging neighbors, especially those in beach areas, when considering sewer-expansion projects geared towards decreasing nitrogen leaching into the bay from private septic systems. He said that a two-thirds vote from both the property owners and town meeting is needed before such major projects, funded exclusively from betterment fees, could take place.
But the biggest take-away from the discussion with McCullough was the absolute need to identify major projects on the horizon for Mattapoisett and how they will be funded. For example, he said that the bike path should be considered as a major infrastructure project, one that is under the purview of a town department such as the Highway Department. But that is currently not the case – the bike path does not tie directly to any town department.
“It hasn’t been on our radar,” said McCullough. “We view the bike path as another road; there will be repairs and maintenance. We ask, ‘who owns this?’ It can’t be (owned by) a committee, it has to be a town department.”
The discussion was wide ranging, moving into such areas as the need for a new town hall, what will become of the retired fire station building, climate resiliency and drainage issues.
In concluding the conversation, McCullough agreed that there is a “marriage” between the two committees and a need for the Master Plan to reflect what Capital Planning is seeing in the 10-year planning forecast. He said he would provide a fully executed plan in the coming weeks, as Capital Planning prepares to meet with the Finance Committee ahead of a meeting with the Select Board and Town Administrator – all steps towards achieving a FY23 budget to bring to voters at the Spring Town Meeting.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Master Plan is scheduled for Wednesday, March 2, at 7:00 pm.
Mattapoisett Master Plan Committee
By Marilou Newell