The Mattapoisett Select Board met with David Riquinha, the current candidate for the position of director of Inspectional Services, on Tuesday night. Previously, several candidates were vetted with the Select Board offering the job to Acushnet Building Commissioner James Marot last November, but Marot subsequently declined. The position was reposted with two candidates coming forward. While Riquinha was the sole candidate remaining as of February 15, he was also the candidate most highly regarded by the board members.
Riquinha currently works for the Town of Wareham and said that he has been in the construction industry since he was a high school student, including ownership of his own business at that early age. After a tour of duty in the Marines, Riquinha returned home, picking up where he left off as an independent businessman.
In 2011, he joined the City of Brookline’s building inspection department, quickly rising through the ranks to become a commissioner in the first year, a feat he was obviously proud to share. When asked why he wanted to come to Mattapoisett, he stated, “I’m looking for a place to retire.” Riquinha said that he plans to work at least another 20 years in the field but could not see himself doing so in his current position.
When quizzed on a wide-ranging number of points, Riquinha said that he is very familiar with the G.I.S. system used in Mattapoisett as well as various types of electronic permitting platforms and said he has created several permitting platforms himself. He was asked how he would get people on board with the use of such systems. While noting some people would resist, once acclimated to them, usually things go smoothly, he said.
Riquinha confirmed his depth of knowledge with respect to FEMA regulations and his ability to work closely and cooperatively with other town departments.
On the issue of human resource-related matters, Riquinha said that he always tries to work things out with an employee when things aren’t right, to get them on board with doing their job, handling their responsibilities so others would not have to carry the burden, but failing that, “I’d go through the process and write them up.”
Public relations were also touched upon with Riquinha saying, if someone was disgruntled by a decision he made, he tried to educate them as to why it was made and generally that works to solve the impasse. “Give them everything you can … they usually understand,” he said.
Board member Jodi Bauer asked how he felt about working with students on town projects. It was noted that Riquinha is a graduate of Greater New Bedford Vocational-Technical High School. He said, “That would be great … no better way to get into the field than getting out into it.”
Later in the meeting, the board members unanimously agreed to have Town Administrator Mike Lorenco reach out to Riquinha with an offer. Bauer said, “He’s everything we need.” Board member Tyler Macallister said he has known the candidate for a number of years, saying, “I think he is perfect for the job.” Board Chairman Jordan Collyer said, “I did my homework – he comes highly recommended.”
The board then spent the majority of the meeting in a working session with Fire Chief Andrew Murray and Harbormaster Jamie McIntosh, discussing FY23 operating budgets and capital plans.
Murray explained that things were going well at the new station but that there were a few bugs being worked out. The FY23 operating budget shows an 8.39 percent overall increase from a FY22 figure of $753,015 to $816,214. Wages account for some of that increase with a full-time clerical-staff position up by $8,920 and on-call firefighters up $26,112. Lorenco explained that the clerical position had not been correctly accounted for in the past.
Murray explained that the Fire Department had in past years only had a few on-call personnel show up but that now the average is 10 trained members of the department arriving for duty, accounting for the increase in that line item. Macallister said, “This what we wanted, to get you the help you need.” Murray said there are 35 on-call firefighters, two full-time staff firefighters and one part-time staff firefighter.
The Fire Department’s capital expense list contains a singular line item: $50,000 for a new support vehicle. Murray restated his previously expressed rationale for a new SUV for the department as necessary not only for local matters but also for transporting trainees to the fire academy.
Bauer wondered aloud why the Fire Department trainees are receiving transportation when other departments with staff members requiring training are using their own vehicles. Murry explained that equipment used in training is dirty and possibly contaminated. He further emphasized, “Most fire departments have three or four support vehicles. In 20 years, we’ve never asked for a support vehicle.”
McIntosh came before the board with a capital expense plan listing $941,382 of need for the Waterfront Enterprise Fund.
Long Wharf repair estimate stands at an initial sum of $794,947 in FY23 with additional financing through FY28 in the amount of $537,500, annually paid via debt exclusion. The Harbor Management Plan, which both McIntosh and the Marine Advisory Board believe is a necessary document in planning and grant applications for the coming decade, is listed at $30,000. And $18,456 is listed for the Patrol Boat debt service, a sum repeated annually through FY28.
McIntosh said a plan for $70,000 worth of new docks and floats would be paid for from the Enterprise Fund and recouped over 10 years.
Regarding seasonal wages, MacIntosh said that an additional $7,000 would be needed to secure qualified help and that boat-fuel increases warrant an increase of $4,000 in that line item. The FY23 budget is planned to increase 5.21 percent, totaling $332,958 for that period. FY22 will stand at $316,458.
In other business, the board denied a request to accept a paper road, Naushon Street, for town services. Highway Surveyor Garrett Bauer noted that there are only two abutters to the roadway, and approval might open the way for more requests heretofore not found to be acceptable.
The board voted to approve deficit spending for road salt if needed before the season ends. Bauer said that salt prices are now $67 per ton, an increase of 40 percent over last winter.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board is scheduled for Tuesday, March 8, at 6:30 pm.
Mattapoisett Select Board
By Marilou Newell