On April 25, a joint meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board and Finance Committee was held. Taking each of the 23 articles now officially to be presented at the Annual Town Meeting on May 13 at 6:30 pm in the Old Rochester Regional High School auditorium, the two boards reviewed each article, determining whether or not to support them.
There were no surprises. After a winter spent in deep financial investigation and consideration of revenue versus expenses, the collective members were prepared.
Article 1, Elected Officers’ Compensation, includes proposed, modest increases for those elected to office. Town Moderator $296 represents a proposed $6 increase, Select Board chairman, at $6,065, is up from $5,945, while Select Board members are proposed $5,465 up from $5,358, and assessors $5,465 up from $5,358.
The town clerk’s proposed increase is from $75,000 to $77,500, and the highway surveyor from $87,500 to $89,500.
Board of Health members currently receive $692, and the proposed increase is $706. Mattapoisett School Committee members, at $692 in FY24, rise to a proposed $706, and Water/Sewer commissioners from $692 to $706.
The Tree warden currently receives $10,500 and is proposed an increase up to $10,710. And, last but not least, the herring inspector, currently at $988, will rise to $1,010 – all, if approved by Town Meeting, were supported by the Finance Committee and the Select Board.
Article 2 General Operating Budget was supported by the committee and board, with the operating budget at $33,900,405, up by $1,494,731 a 4.6% increase.
Town Administrator Mike Lorenco explained the contributing factors to expense increases.
He cited retirement contribution $163,028, health insurance $101,171, lease obligations $86,440, trash and recycling curbside pick-up $126,660, trash and recycling disposal $216,643. Other expenses include a new hire for the Highway Department (full-time mechanic/laborer) at $40,000, a Council on Aging, full-time outreach coordinator at $20,167, library director increase of $9,000 and $12,000 for state limit library supplies. And lastly, $30,060 for computer technology.
Calling it a balanced budget, Lorenco said that anticipated revenue is $33,953,511.
Article 3, Appropriation for OPEB Liabilities, is proposed in the amount of $229,100 to meet the town’s obligation.
Article 4, Departmental Revolving Fund Authorization, will set spending limits as follows: $5,000 Public Health Nursing Services; Heritage Days $10,000, Local Cultural Council $15,000, Wood Waste Recycling $10,000, Community Farmers’ Market $7,500, Library Fines $10,000, Private Road Maintenance $25,000, Fire Alarm Bylaw Penalties $10,000 and Public Access Channels $200,000.
Article 5, Establish a Roadway Design and Construction Revolving Account, Article 7, Cyclical Annual Property Revaluation/Town Mapping $50,000 and Article 8, Cyclical Annual OPEB Actuarial Report $4,500, were all supported, as were Article 9 Personnel Schedules and Article 10 the Capital Planning Report.
Article 11 contains the proposed Capital Expenses, all supported by the board and committee: Ambulance Replacement $360,000, Ambulance Power Stretcher $40,000, Fire Helmet Replacement $11,000, Fire Hose Replacement $18,000, Ford pick-up Replacement $75,000, Annual Road Replacement $300,000 and Paging Servers (each) $32,900 for Center and Old Hammondtown schools.
Continuing on Capital Expenses: Police UTV $25,000 (to be shared with Waterfront), Replacement Pump on Forestry 1 $8,000, Repair and Paint Town Hall $50,000, Back Building Exhaust Fan (Highway Department) $10,000, Water Heater Replacement (Old Hammondtown School) $18,000, Elevator Equipment Upgrades $25,000, Water Heater Replacement (Center School) $18,000, Replace and Repair Fire Doors (Center School) $26,000, Repair Window Seals (Center School) $20,000 and Replace VCT Flooring (Old Hammondtown School) $25,000.
The Waterfront Enterprise Fund seeks $25,000 for police and Marine UTA (shared with Police Department), $25,000 for Docks and Floats and $10,000 for Pump Out Engine equipment.
There was no motion taken for Article 12, Old Rochester Regional Debt Authorization for Capital Improvements $12,000,000, by the Select Board, but the Finance Committee voted to support the article.
Article 13, Water/Sewer Building (new) Industrial Drive $4,700,000, was supported by both the Finance Committee and the Select Board. Lorenco stated that the lion’s share of monies needed for a new Water/Sewer headquarters building will come from grants and real estate sales.
Article 14, Allocation of Revenues Community Preservation Act, followed by Article 15, CPA Funding Mattapoisett Historical Commission $30,000, were both supported. The grant money will be used to continue the work of data collection and retention per the state regulations for historic resources.
Water and Sewer Reserve accounts (Articles 16 and 17) are both seeking $10,000 from retained earnings for unforeseen expenses.
Article 18, Oakland Street Sewer Supplemental Funding, asked Town Meeting to appropriate $120,000 to repair the failing sewer main that services a large area.
Article 19 requests a title change from Highway Surveyor to Highway Superintendent, and Article 20 is an amendment change to the Finance Committee bylaws that would allow appointed members to reside in any location in town regardless of former north, east and west requirements.
Article 21, Amendment to By-laws for House Numbering, and Article 22, Public Works Improvement, were both supported by the Select Board.
Article 23 is a citizen’s petition for the establishment of a Road Reconstruction Committee, borne of concerns expressed by members of the Mattapoisett Tree Committee that plans for roadway reconstruction as drafted by engineering firm VHB to meet requirements of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (a primary source of funding for the project) dictate cutting down more than 25 mature trees in the village area. Tree Committee Chairman Sandy Hering and others put forward the article to have a bigger decision-making voice in the proposed layout.
The Monday, May 13, Annual Town Meeting Warrant is available at Mattapoisett Town Hall or on the town’s website, mattapoisett.net.
Mattapoisett Select Board and Finance Committee
By Marilou Newell