The Mattapoisett Select Board meeting held on April 28 was a joint venture with the Finance Committee. The Select Board and Finance Committee met for this final Spring Town Meeting Warrant Review taking care to ensure any lingering questions were answered before meeting with voters.
The May 11 Spring Town Meeting Warrant features many articles routinely brought before the voters such as the General Operating Budget, which for FY27 is $36,555,506, and appropriations for OPEB funding, slated to be $229,000. The warrant also asks for transfers from the Water Reserve Account and Sewer Reserve Account for betterment reserves in the amount of $10,000 each.
A report from the Capital Planning Committee lists $400,000 for a new ambulance, $65,000 for a power stretcher, and Fire Department Firefighter PPE $19,000 (personal protection equipment). Annual road improvements $300,000, $52,000 for firearm replacements, a police cruiser for $52,000, updating surveillance and security at Old Hammondtown School $16,000, and a dump truck for the Highway Department $260,000. Also on the list is a front-end loader replacement for the Highway Department $250,000, Food Service coolers for Center School $18,000, maintenance of a chiller for Center School $41,000, replacement of roof top unit Center School $100,000, zero turn mower $25,000 (Highway Department), Center School phased roof replacement $37,000, John Deer Gator Replacement Highway Department $30,000, Center School new dishwasher $36,000, and Old Hammondtown School flooring replacement $25,000.
Grants requested from Community Preservation Act funding are $30,000 for Phase IV for to complete a historic survey of the town. Restoration to the historic cemetery stone wall at Hammond Cemetery $40,000, the historic commission is also asking for $7,200 to establish a historic building database. The Mattapoisett Museum is requesting $13,000 to construct accessible-access points.
Two new zoning bylaws are being presented by the Planning Board. One is an amend existing zoning bylaws to include Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) structures. The other seeks to amend zoning bylaws to include cluster, cottage-style housing units.
A full copy of the warrant is now available on the town’s website, Mattapoisett.gov.
An article asking to allow the Select Board to enter into negotiations with property owners for easements required for construction of the Village Roads projects is included in the warrant, as is repairs to the Water Street culvert estimated at $2,000,000.
Mattapoisett Select Board
By Marilou Newell