Members of the Mattapoisett Finance Committee on September 18 got a peek at the issues to appear as articles on the October 20 Fall Special Town Meeting Warrant, starting with a presentation by Highway Surveyor Barry Denham on the progress and future of the Town’s road improvement plan.

Town Meeting members will vote on the transfer of $275,000 to possibly $300,000 from the Tax Title Proceeds to the Mattapoisett Road Improvement Fund to pay for upcoming roadway projects, including roads in the center of town that Town Administrator Michael Gagne said were some of the worst in Town – namely Main Street, Water Street to North Street, Mechanic Street, and Church Street between Main Street and North Street, which have not been paved since 1979.

Finance Committee Chairman Pat Donoghue voiced concern over the sidewalk she referred to as a trip hazard on Mechanic Street near Pearl Street, specifically between the two churches. She said there have been a significant number of injuries resulting from pedestrians using the strip of sidewalk, and her greatest concern was for the elderly walking to church.

Gagne suggested marking the sidewalks in the meantime until logistics can be worked out to undergo the project so that road repair can occur seamlessly with the water main improvement.

“So at least people can see them,” said Gagne about the sidewalk edge. “So people can at least have some knowledge that there is a trip hazard there.”

Denham said 15 of the 44 miles of town road are in need of repair, and 5.75 miles are “suspect,” meaning they will eventually need repair in the foreseeable future.

Just over 14 miles, said Denham, have undergone roadwork within the last eight years.

Gagne said, as a rule of thumb, the Town’s roads should be repaved every 20 years.

“We should be paving about two miles of road per year, said Gagne referring to the Town’s roadwork plan. “We are about one point five below where we should be at this point.”

Denham listed some roadway projects completed this year so far, including just over two miles of North Street, the River Road bridge, Ashe Terrace, Eldorado Drive, Shady Oak Drive, Bayberry Lane, Acorn Lane, and Hemlock Lane.

Also slated for the warrant, Town Meeting will vote to draft special legislation to appropriate 100 percent of boat excise tax proceeds to waterfront improvement projects. Gagne said the selectmen currently designate 50 percent of boat excise taxes to the waterfront-related activities and wish to make it law that all of the proceeds are automatically directed to waterfront projects.

Selectmen have been doing it for years, said Gagne, and the sentiment of the Board of Selectmen is, “So let’s just make that a law so it doesn’t fall by the wayside in the future.”

Another article will be the transfer of additional funds from the Regional School Reserves to cover the cost of three additional Mattapoisett students attending Bristol County Agricultural High School. Tuition for Bristol Aggie is $18,000 per student per year.

Going further down the list of anticipated articles, the warrant will feature an article proposing an Active Duty Military Exemption that will temporarily defer property taxes for members of the military away on active duty until they return.

Property tax payments would not be reduced, simply deferred without accruing interest.

Some legal expenses from prior years will also appear on the warrant, as well as Fairhaven wastewater treatment plant charges and the appropriation of funds to the sewer system on Industrial Drive.

Gagne said additional funding is also needed for unemployment expenses and Water/Sewer salary and expenses.

The plan, according to Gagne, is to “hold as much money in reserve and then appropriate as needed.”

The State has also partially funded several additional defibrillators through a grant that will cover 50 percent of the cost. Defibrillators have been added to the gymnasium in each of the schools and replaced in other locations throughout the Town. Gagne said he purchased ten for $1,000 each and expects a refund of about $5,000 from the State.

A warrant regarding dog citations and one for zoning bylaw changes pertaining to the Bay Club will also be listed as articles on the warrant.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Finance Committee is scheduled for September 30 at 6:30 pm in the town administrator’s office at Town Hall.

By Jean Perry

With a full agenda on their first fall meeting, the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen got right down to business on September 23.

One delicate matter was discussed early in the meeting. During the September 9 State Primary, newly-elected Town Clerk Catherine Heuberger apparently made an error that has left those election results pending state certification. Town Administrator Michael Gagne presented a letter to the selectmen, which after being approved and signed by Chairman Paul Silva, will go on to Representative William Strauss and Senator Marc Pacheco. Once their signatures join Silva’s, the request for special certification of Mattapoisett’s election results will go to the Governor for his seal of approval. Silva signed the document.

Coming before the board was Harbormaster Jill Simmons, who reported that with the assistance of a Boy Scout working towards his Eagle badge, she will be building a kayak storage area along the edge of the grassed park situated next to Munro Preserve. She noted that more kayak storage is something the community needs.

Chief Mary Lyons met with the Selectmen to discuss staffing issues that have driven up overtime costs. Lyons said that there is one full-time position open on the police department that equates to 21 shifts per month that require filling. She said that this has added up to $11,000 in overtime wages. Lyons wanted the board to consider filling that full-time opening now to save the town money. Silva asked for a cost analysis because he was not fully convinced that filling that opening would, in fact, save the town money, citing benefit packages and retirement costs. Gagne will report back to Silva with that data. Lyons also said that Shawn Parker had graduated from the police academy. Mattapoisett’s police department is staffed by 16 patrol officers, five reserve officers, a captain and the chief.

Lyons reported that several breaking and entering cases were solved and stolen goods recovered. The police department also identified the two youths who were involved in the theft of copper pipes from Center School, although the pipes themselves have yet to be recovered. Those individuals are now going through the legal system.

It was announced that liquor stores may now open at 10:00 am on Sundays due to new state legislature. Local stores will need to petition the Board of Selectmen to request a change in hours of operation.

Gagne also reported that meetings with ORR school committee members and Tri-Town government leaders have begun. There are four areas that this newly launched group will cover: 1) appropriate use of free cash; 2) development of a stabilization fund for capital expenses; 3) OPEB/other post-employment benefits; and 4) development of a reserve fund for unforeseen expenses.

Regarding the use of the open space resources at Ned’s Point, Gagne said that he has received concerns and negative comments due to the increasing number of large group gatherings taking place there. He suggested that, over the winter months, the selectmen review how the space is managed to ensure fair and equal use to all people.

Gagne and Selectman Jordan Collyer have also been working towards developing policies for ‘film and movie’ production within the town. Collyer had attended a seminar that urged cities and towns to protect their town with written policies. Gagne shared a copy of the policy used in North Andover as a starting point for crafting the town’s version.

He also said that research and experiments that have been conducted on oyster farming at Pine Island Pond have produced great results. Kevin McGown, a student from the University of North Carolina with a focus on invertebrate studies, has been working with Shellfish Warden Kathy Massey. They now have 50,000 healthy oysters that need to be dispersed throughout the pond. They are seeking volunteers to assist over several consecutive Saturdays. Visit www.mattapoisett.net for more information on volunteering.

The selectmen approved a one-day liquor license to the YMCA for a fundraising event on September 26 and a one-day use of the landfill site (as an alternate location) to the Pilgrim Sand Trail Riders on November 9 from 7:00 am to dusk.

Mattapoisett’s Cultural Council in now accepting grant proposals postmarked no later than October 15. Submittals must include 10 copies.

Upcoming events include: Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary’s Seaside Harvest Festival, Saturday October 4, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, rain date October 5, entertainment by “The Relics” from noon until 3:00 pm; Mattapoisett Police Department medicine disposal clinic Saturday, September 27, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm; Cat and Dog rabies clinic, October 5, 10:00 am – noon at the Fire Department for $12/pet; Mattapoisett Bike Path Public hearing on September 25 at Old Hammondtown School at 7:00 pm; Mattapoisett Public Library is now open on Sundays from 1:00 – 4:00 pm through Memorial Day; Fire Department Open house is October 9, 6:00 – 8:00 pm; Senior Luncheon on October 14 at noon with a talk on fire prevention and safety; and Special Town Meeting is October 20, 6:30 pm in the ORRHS Auditorium.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen is October 14 at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall conference center.

By Marilou Newell