A strategy for revitalizing the town’s Point Road Bike Path, as well as ironing out the purview of the town’s Marine Resources Commission, were items discussed at last Wednesday’s Select Board meeting.

            The Select Board, which also oversees the town’s water and sewer services, also attended to items connected to those services. This includes water abatement requests.

            Jeff Doubrava, the CPC chairman, met with the Select Board.

            Doubrava, representing himself as a concerned citizen, said the bike path is only half the size originally proposed and has encountered other issues impacting its use in town. Doubrava said there is $600,000 available in CPC funding and through a “sunset provision” the town can access funding to extend and fix issues with the path.

            “The Point Road Bike Path has been troubled,” Doubrava told the Select Board at the November 6 meeting.

            Doubrava proposed an article at the next Town Meeting that would “claw back all monies” meant for the project

            As The Wanderer reported in weeks prior, residents in October complained that the sand along the path has snakes, often less than seven feet off the road. Storm water runoff is also damaging homes and yards.

            Doubrava told Select Board members on November 6 that the path’s length is only half of what was originally intended.

            In 2019, a town meeting approved a plan for the path using $268,000 in funds allocated by the Community Preservation Act.

            Select Board members agreed to allow Doubrava to craft an article for the Town Meeting.

            Marine Resources Commission (MRS) Chairman Vincent Malkowski Jr. met with the Select Board about funding, staffing, and the general governing purview of the marine resources department.

            The commission falls under the police department, but commission members often clean up trash and are responsible for Island’s Wharf’s maintenance. That area has also had parking issues and problems and the MRS is unsure how to handle such issues.

            The commission also had three full-time employees and now only one – a personnel issues Malkowski wants to revisit.

            The Select Board agreed to hold a special meeting with the MRC at a later date with to discuss these issues.

            In other business, George Morton, Jill Pitman, and Merry Conway were appointed to the Historic District Study Committee. Elizabeth Dowd was appointed to the Scholarship Education Fund Committee.

            It was also reported that the Department of Public Works building is ahead of schedule and the Marion Skate Park is now open.

            Town Administrator Geoffrey Gorman announced the town received a state grant of $206,000 to refurbish the Marion Town House, bringing the building up to American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance and correcting other safety issues.

            In sewer and water business, the board agreed to talk further with Building Commissioner Bob Grillo about a once-denied sewer hookup on Bass Road, a waterfront property. The property owner said similar beachfront properties have received sewer hook-up approval. Select Board members expressed concern that the area is in a coastal flood zone and cautioned that any home built there needs to be built high to avoid a potential disaster.

            They agreed that similar properties have received sewer approval and will be revisited.

            The Select Board met with Rocky Knoll Lane resident Greg Silva, who seeks a water bill abatement. Silva contended that his older water meter, from 1985, might have been inaccurate, leading to him being overcharged over a three-year span.

            Since the town now can read the water meter from the street, his bills have decreased. Board members agreed to have staff further analyze his meter for inaccuracies.

            The board also received a request and will further analyze whether businesses within Sippican Business Park are eligible for a water bill abatement.

            The Select Board will meet again at the Marion Town House on November 19 at 6:00 pm. The board will meet with assessors to set the tax rate for next year. That initiative was planned at the November 6 meeting, but assessors were not available then to meet.

Marion Select Board

By Jeffrey D. Wagner

TheNovember 12 meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board included a joint meeting with the town’s Disabilities Commission. The board also met with the Institute for Human Centered Design. The town had received a grant to conduct a self-evaluation on matters related to ADA compliance. The town’s Disabilities Commission reorganized and is now entrusted with the task of identifying a wide variety of ADA issues and offering advice on steps to improve accessibility and inclusion for all.

            The IHCD was represented by Project Managers David West and Meghan Dufresne who gave a PowerPoint presentation that fully explored the evaluation process and conclusions. The town’s designated responsible employee is Mike Lorenco, Town Administrator. In this role, Lorenco handles grievance procedures from employees, a main criterion towards ensuring the town is complying with state requirements. The report noted that the town has taken initial steps toward ADA compliance, reasonable accommodation, and effective communication.

            Playgrounds, beaches, and popular public spaces such as Ned’s Point were evaluated by IHCD for ADA compliance. They found that ramps leading to restrooms at Ned’s Point were out of compliance. On the plus side, the town offers a submersible wheelchair at Town Beach on Water Street.

            The report touched on strategies that would ensure access to recreational areas and programs. It pointed out that Town Hall stair railings were noncompliant, exposed plumbing could be a hazard, service counters were too high, and there was a lack of an access aisle at handicap parking slot in front of Town Hall. Other areas of concern were lack of accessible route at town beach playground and Shipyard Park gazebo. DDC Chairman Chuck McIntyre suggested that children be included when considering adaptations to playgrounds and also suggested playground equipment that accommodated wheelchairs.

            Select Board member Jordan Collyer asked the commission members to develop a list of items, changes, and adaptations that could then be prioritized. Cost estimates would also be needed for presentation to Town Meeting.

            The next meeting of the DDC will be scheduled for December.

            In other matters before the board on this night, the resignation of Jennifer Wong as the town’s representative to the South Coast Bikeway Alliance and the appointment of Pam Haznar to the same. The board also voted during a public hearing with Eversource to grant the installation of a utility conduit at 7 Foster Street.

            The appointment of Tyler Hathaway as an alternate on the Conservation Commission was also taken up by the board.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board is scheduled for November 26.

Mattapoisett Select Board

By Marilou Newell