The Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen has scheduled another Special Town Meeting for January 14 in order to amend the language of one part of a warrant article adopted at the October 21, 2019 Special Town Meeting.
Article 20 as a whole authorized the town to borrow $2,535,000 for various the Public Works project. The part the town needs to amend pertains road and drainage improvements to Industrial Drive, a new pedestrian crossing signal at the Park and Ride on North Street, and the construction of a shared-use path from North Street to the Mattapoisett/Marion town line.
The article specified that the work would only proceed if the town received two particular grants – a Mass Works Grant from the state and a federal US Economic Development Grant for a grand total of $1,470,000; however, according to Town Administrator Michael Gagne, the town only received the US Economic Development Grant in the amount of $750,000.
The amendment proposed deleting the section specifying that the work would only proceed pending the two named grants and adding in the following: “The Town’s share of the project cost $1,665,000 must be matched dollar for dollar from Federal and State Grant/Funding sources to be used towards the project.”
“The feds are very strict about having all your authorizations in place,” said Gagne on December 27. He called the article amendment a “housekeeping” matter and confirmed that the town’s bond counsel has approved the new language.
Gagne is still optimistic that the town will be awarded a state grant within the $650,000-$750,000 range.
“We think we have the strong possibility of getting some more grant money from the state,” Gagne stated. “We’re working closely with the state and our representative and it looks like we may have some money as early as July 1.”
According to Gagne, an additional $50,000 in funding has been offered from the Friends of the Mattapoisett Bike Path.
Gagne said the delay in the possible receipt of the state grant would not impact the timeline of the project, adding that the design plans should reach 75-percent completion by the end of the month, and the permitting process should proceed come February.
“[January 14] is not the greatest time to have a town meeting,” commented Gagne, but if the town can get a special town meeting quorum of 50, he said, the project would be $750,000 closer to fruition.
The Special Town Meeting is scheduled for 6:30 pm on January 14 at Old Hammondtown School.
The next regular meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen is scheduled for January 14 at 7:00 pm at Old Hammondtown School following the Special Town Meeting.
Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen
By Jean Perry