There was jubilation, shouts of “Yes!” and backslapping all around as Mattapoisett Town Clerk Catherine Hueberger read the Annual Election results that featured two Proposition 2 ½ override questions.
The voters spoke passing both by considerable margins.
Question 1 asked voters to approve an override that will allow the town to borrow $9.2-million for the construction of a new fire station.
After months of discussing the needs of the Fire Department, making presentations at association meetings, and visiting (on more than one occasion) the Finance Committee, Capital Planning, and Board of Selectmen, the voters were in favor of digging a little deeper into their pockets to fund the project.
The question passed 1,226 – 161.
“I feel great,” Fire Station Committee Chairman Mike Hickey said after the vote was announced. “We appreciate the support of the townspeople.” He said the Fire Department should be moving into its new digs, which will be located adjacent to the police station, in March 2021.
“I’m overwhelmed,” said Fire Chief Andrew Murray. He said he was grateful for all the support the department received, the warm reception he enjoyed when speaking to groups about the needs facing the aging fire station, and the Town for making it happen.
According to Murray, groundbreaking will take place in the spring of 2020.
Question 2, which also asked voters to override Proposition 2 ½ to borrow for improvements that had been identified as critical by the Old Rochester Regional School District Committee. Those improvements are new auditorium lighting and audio upgrades, and repairs and improvements to an outdoor track and athletic field, estimated at $2 million.
Hal Rood of Rochester, one of the prime movers in getting this request before voters in the Tri-Towns, was beaming.
“Voters overwhelmingly support this project,” Rood said. “We are confident when Rochester holds its elections in July it will pass.” He thanked the voters of Mattapoisett.
Shaun Walsh of Marion, another committee member, said with a smile, “We are not counting our chickens before they hatch.”
Mattapoisett Selectman Jordan Collyer ran uncontested for another 3-year term receiving 1,172 votes. Cary LeBlanc, who also ran uncontested for Assessor, received 1,187 votes. The ORR School Committee seat went to Suzanne Tseki who received 1,047 votes in her uncontested race.
Open seats on the Mattapoisett School Committee forced a hand count as no one ran, but write-ins were aplenty. Winning those seats were Karin Barrows who received 126 votes and Shannon Fining-Kwoka who received 116. Carla Lavin was defeated receiving only 73 write-in votes.
The results of the remaining uncontested positions are as follows: Board of Health, Ken Dawicki, 1,125; Library Trustees (two seats), Michael Rosa, 942, and Barbara Gaspar, 1,122; Town Moderator, John Eklund, 1,144; Water/Sewer Commissioner, Dana Barrows, 1,126; Planning Board, Thomas Tucker, 1,107; Mattapoisett Housing Authority, Charles McCullough, 1,119; Constable (two positions), Kenneth Pacheco, 1057, and Donald Bliss, 1003; Herring Inspector, Robert Martin, 1,117; Tree Warden, Roland Cote, 1,135; Community Preservation Committee (two seats), Michelle Hughes, 1,099, and Charles McCullough, 1,025.
Mattapoisett Annual Election
By Marilou Newell