It’s no small task to keep the roadways of a community in good working order and to do so with an eye on the bottom line. Any highway surveyor can attest to that reality. But couple that with a population willing to invest in their roads and you’ve got a winning combination.

So said Town Administrator Michael Gagne during the February 28 meeting of the Finance Committee, who sat down with Barry Denham, Mattapoisett Highway Surveyor.

“We’ve had eight debt exclusions for road work,” Gagne. “…A lot of credit has to go to the community for having the foresight to invest in their roads.… Other towns are putting that issue to the side.”

Denham said that spending money on maintenance rather than rebuilding badly damaged roadways makes fiscal sense because it costs less.

Gagne said each year about $500,000 is set aside for roadwork, much of which comes from retiring debt. Added to that sum for specific projects are Chapter 90 funds, as well as funds raised from the sale of tax title properties. Collectively that sum stands at $6.1 million.

Denham discussed what’s on his department’s radar for road projects in the coming months, as well as some longer range planning. One project slated for spring 2018 is a repair to the drainage system located in the LeBaron Estates subdivision.

While the streets in the neighborhood have long been public ways, the drainage system servicing the area is located on private property. Easements had been planned for the Town’s access to the drainage system, but somehow since 1964 those easements had never been transferred to the Town.

“At the last town meeting we approved that,” Denham said. “It didn’t cost us anything…. The upgrades will eliminate the flooding issues in there.”

Larger, more involved projects were also discussed for the FY19 construction season.

Denham said asphalt overlays to a section of Acushnet Road were needed at an estimated cost of $310,000. Engineering and design plans for Main, Water, and Beacon Streets would cost about $150,000 he said, with engineering for the Randall Bridge coming in at $100,000. Other projects discussed were repairs to lower Pearl Street and repairs to a bridge at Tinkham Pond. Overall estimates bring the price tag just north of $900,000.

Denham also took a look at projects scoped out for the FY20 construction season: construction of the Randall Bridge, $650,000; overlay to River Road and Crystal Spring Road, $500,000; and continued planning for Main, Water and Beacon Streets, $50,000.

The good news for the town on this group of projects is that Denham has already secured a $500,000 grant for the bridge work, with another $228,000 of Chapter 90 funding in the waiting.

Denham said it was important to take care of what he termed “our long roads” – River, Crystal Spring, and Acushnet Roads, for instance – with the application of asphalt overlays for “short money.” He said, by comparison, the village streets were expensive to upgrade.

“My goal is to do two miles of road a year for short money,” said Denham, “[While] picking away at the more expensive roads.”

On the Highway Department five-year plan for capital equipment needs, Denham included a new road grader on the list. The equipment currently in service was purchased in 1948. He estimated a new one would come in around $185,000.

“We have 6.5 miles of unpaved roadways and parking lots,” Denham told the committee members, which require attention twice annually.

Denham is also asking the Capital Planning Committee to consider a surf rake for beach cleaning, a tool much needed on the public beach located adjacent to the YMCA camp. Also needed, Denham said, are a sidewalk plow, a street sweeper/catch basin cleaner, a five-ton roller, and a drain cleaner. The estimated total for all items on the vehicle and equipment list is $671,113.

Other Highway Department needs and expenses Denham discussed were the repairs and upgrades to the town barn and office. He noted the need to upgrade bathroom facilities, insulate exterior walls, replace windows, and make improvements to the storage shed totaling $344,500. He noted there are some funds that have already been appropriated towards building repairs.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Finance Committee is scheduled for March 8 at 6:30 pm in the Town Hall conference room at which time Dale Barrows, Board of Health Agent, is scheduled to attend to discuss the transfer station and community nurse. The Finance Committee will also meet again on March 14 and 22 for continued talks with department heads.

Mattapoisett Finance Committee

By Marilou Newell

On March 5 with a light agenda, the Marion Planning Board dispensed with two hearings, giving the green light to the Taber Library Improvement Project and approving a residential pier off Delano Road.

Library Trustee Bob Raymond, accompanied by Board of Trustees President Jay Pateakos, began the presentation of the pre-submission conference Site Plan Review of the Elizabeth Taber Library Improvement Project with a brief history of its genesis.

Over a year ago, a donor approached the library trustees offering to fund building accessibility improvements, specifically the installation of a ramp, benches, and new automatic door operators. The trustees worked with the donor, Ms. Peggy Repass, on the design for the library, which is loosely based on the public library courtyard in Camden, Maine.

The design of the stone benches in particular captured the imagination of Planning Board member Will Saltonstall. After Raymond let on that the titles of decorative stone books that would form the supports for the benches had yet to be selected, Saltonstall suggested, “Donate money, you get to name a book!”

Repass resides in Florida in the winter, returning to Marion in June, giving hope that the project could be completed by then.

Planning Board Chairman Eileen Marum suggested tying-in the Taber Library improvements with the Town House project, “…coming together as one campus.” Raymond agreed, pointing out that the sidewalks were designed to intersect with the Town House pathways.

With few comments on design details, next up was procedure. Saltonstall questioned whether a minor Site Plan Review was applicable to this project, asking the applicants if Building Commissioner Scott Shippey had suggested they come before the board. Project architect Erica Patten of T2 Architects in Marion acknowledged that, due to the fact that the project was publically owned, they wanted to make sure all the bases were covered.

Planning Board Vice Chairman Stephen Kokkins observed that there were no drainage issues and no traffic concerns, affirming Saltonstall’s question of applicability of a Site Plan Review. Board member Norm Hills referred to the bylaws stating that the project was not a building or a structure or a change of use, and the access structure was less than 500 square feet in area.

Board member Andrew Daniel, who is a vocal supporter of creating accessibility and ADA compliance, first stated “You won’t find a bigger supporter than me,” but he was cautious, citing a concern that it might appear that the board was letting the project move forward because it was a Town project. Hills responded that the board was following the letter of the bylaws, which seemed to satisfy Daniel.

After a brief discussion in which the board was assured of the reuse of the beautiful pink granite steps on site, the board voted unanimously that there was no need for a Site Plan Review.

Architect Patten was heard saying after the vote, “That will certainly help getting it done by summer!”

Engineer David Davignon of N. Douglas Schneider and Associates, Inc. came before the board briefly to tie up loose ends from the previous public hearing for the Special Permit for a pier as an accessory use for Carolyn G. Martin at 282 Delano Road. Davignon provided the board with a new project narrative that corrected a previous reference to the old bylaws. In addition, Davignon informed the board that the public hearing for the project had been closed by the Conservation Commission last week, and the project received a verbal vote of approval. He is awaiting the paperwork, which he will provide the board upon his receipt. Kokkins confirmed that the plan before the board was identical to the plan they had seen at the previous meeting. The board approved the pier, with standard pier language that had been reviewed by town counsel.

In other business, discussion turned to old business, and the issue of the marijuana moratorium was raised.

“The town passed the moratorium – now comes the hard part,” said Hills.

Marum declared that the Board of Health had already developed bylaws which were before town counsel, which Daniels questioned – “They’ve already written one (sic)?” Marum clarified that the board had a template.

Kokkins asked about the timeline leading up to December 31, and Hills reminded the board that the Town was waiting for the state regulations, which were due March 15.

Board member Chris Collings wondered aloud about the Town’s economic opportunity in licensing the marijuana establishments, saying, “This could be worth a few dollars – it’s a cash-rich business.”

Collings later stated, “[This] prospective business has to have a security plan; local police need resources to review this. Could this be a ten thousand dollar license? Could it be renewable? [The police] need to review [the security plan] each year? My comment is to get as much out of this as we can.”

Marum interrupted Collings’ musings with a terse, “We are the Planning Board. We are not in the business of selling marijuana.”

Daniel weighed in, saying that he agreed with Collings in that “the Town should benefit.” Collings added, “At least make sure we cover our costs.”

The licensing fees are set by the state, however, and so far, stated in the draft state regulations, the percentage the town receives would be defined within a tentative Host Community Agreement. Marum pointed out that the so-called community impact fee could be as much as 3% of gross sales, but the Town would need to provide documentation to justify that amount. Marum reiterated, “There are a few things that need to be ironed out.”

The next meeting of the Marion Planning Board is scheduled for March 19 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Town House.

Marion Planning Board

By Sarah French Storer