Into FY24 Budget Weeds

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            Make no mistake about it, Mattapoisett is deep into the FY24 budget process. The importance of evaluating municipal departmental budget requests, capital needs, staffing plans, expenditures and revenue cannot be overstated – it is a massive undertaking.

            On February 15, the Select Board, along with Town Administrator Mike Lorenco, met for a working session to take an overview of the FY24 budget. The board met with Library Director Jennifer Jones, Highway Surveyor Garrett Bauer, Council on Aging Director Jackie Seney, and Board of Health Agent Gail Joseph.

            Jones explained the need to repair carpeting in the Children’s Library space, noting it was more than 20 years old. The estimated replacement cost is $45,000. She went on to discuss the importance of evaluating and possibly replacing historic roof tiles on a portion of the building. The current estimate is $85,000.

            Jones was asked by Board member Jordan Collyer to try and locate notes from the 2008 reconstruction and renovation of the library. He said he seemed to remember that the historic roof area had been evaluated at that time and any documentation from that time may prove helpful for current repair proposals.

            Regarding the library’s FY24 budget projection, all-inclusive stands at $584,482.

            Bauer shared that although he is currently looking for one part-time employee and as many as four during the summer season, he has been concentrating on what they can accomplish in house. Two large construction projects, the Pearl Street reconstruction estimated at $620,000 and the Oakland Street reconstruction at $817,000, are on the horizon. He spoke to the need for a new backhoe/loader vehicle estimated at $170,000, along with annual roadway improvements at $250,000. Bauer said that staffing has been a problem and that posted part-time positions have gone unanswered.

            Lorenco said that the condition of the Highway Department “barn” needs to be immediately addressed. The roof is compromised, it was noted, and bathroom facilities are inadequate. Also ADA compliance is long overdue. The Capital Plan lists $3,200,000 through debt exclusion in FY25 for building renovations. Lorenco said some debt would be retiring, but further finance exploration is needed for funding this project.

            The all-inclusive FY24 budget projection is $806,100 with another $25,000 for street signs and roadway painting and $115,000 for snow removal and roadway treatments.

            Seney advanced a level-funded, FY24 budget of $202,777 for the Council on Aging. She said that medical-appointment travel continues to be in high demand, especially since the volunteer ride program FISH was heavily impacted by the pandemic. Another service in demand is completing fuel-assistance forms, assisting seniors in navigating the paperwork. Seney stated that the COA has provided services to 957 individuals with 616 of that number Mattapoisett residents in all categories including exercise programs, which are always in high demand.

            Seney gave a big shoutout to Liz Leatham, outreach coordinator, for her tireless efforts in providing in-home services and comfort to seniors who may not have the ability to visit the center.

            Board of Health Agent Gail Joseph touched on a number of projects and plans for the Transfer Station. FY24 budget projections for various services include recycling pick-up $224,606 and Covanta SEMASS $338,391. Contracts for both services end in 2024. Rubbish pick-up projection is $375,000. All other expenses related to the operation of the station minus salaries are posted at $115,600. Salaries, fuel, professional development and office materials are tagged at $140,321.

            Joseph spoke to the improvements to the Transfer Station grounds and new services either in place or planned for future inclusion. Currently available are mattress, metal and other recyclable locations. Joseph said she is in discussion with vendors so that a hazardous-materials area might be set up. This would allow residents to drop off materials whenever the station is open. She also hoped to construct a building that could be used as a “swap shop” or dump store. In both instances, concrete pads would be needed.

            Retained earnings continues to be an issue the board has grappled with over the years for the Transfer Station, which is set up as an Enterprise Fund. Projections are that the town’s coffers will have to again subsidize the operation in FY24. Joseph said she was not involved in that side of the department.

            The Finance Committee met on February 16 for the first time in the FY24 cycle to map out meeting schedules and get an overview of earnings and expenditures from Lorenco.

            Lorenco shared that, if all Capital Planning requests are funded, the total is $861,000 against a free-cash balance of $1,200,000. As things stand presently, Lorenco cautioned that healthcare increases are an unknown sum but assuredly would be higher than last year. Also unknown is the amount of state aid the town will receive. He said he hopes to have those numbers sooner rather than later.

            Lorenco touched on the list of construction projects such as Pearl and Oakland Street reconstruction $1,437,000, and takings and other engineering matters related to Phase 2a of the bike path $75,000. Of the Holy Ghost Grounds, Lorenco said he is seeking a grant of $250,000 for “underutilized” municipal property. He told the committee that a grant of $35,000 would be sought for a study of Town Hall and a $30,000 grant for a Harbor Management Plan.

            Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School is looking for financial support of a feasibility study from its member communities, Lorenco said. He explained the school’s need for major improvements upon which the future of the school depends. The total cost is $1,000,000, Lorenco said, with the school picking up half that sum and the towns sharing in the balance based on enrollment. Mattapoisett’s portion is scheduled at 8%.

            The Mattapoisett School Committee met on February 16 with Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson and Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber to present their projected FY24 budget. Lorenco and Finance Committee member Colby Rottler were present.

            The presentation listed the following line items: $8,199,021 for Center School and Old Hammondtown Elementary School; that number includes $94,440 for Bristol Agricultural School. The FY23 number was $8,037,327. Nelson said some student programming had been reduced to offset the high cost of utilities and one paraprofessional position has been eliminated. Lorenco asked him to provide a list of those programs he’d like to see added or returned in order to better understand the impact of the reduction and needs.

            “We worked on an Operating Budget that would be sustainable,” said Barber, with Nelson adding, “… trying to find a number that serves the students,” and is still fiscally viable.

            Rottler asked about school-enrollment numbers as an ongoing question of many taxpayers. Nelson said that in the next five years, enrollment may be reduced by 20 students. Enrollment for FY23 was 418 and for FY22 was 423. Mattapoisett School Committee Chairperson Carly Lavin said those numbers reflected seven grades.

            The next budget-related meeting date is to be announced.

Mattapoisett Select Board, Finance Committee and School Committee

By Marilou Newell

Machacam Club

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The next meeting of the Machacam Club is scheduled for Wednesday, March 1. We meet at the American Legion Eastman Post on Depot Street. Doors open at 5 pm for social time followed by dinner at 6 pm. Our speaker program begins at 6:45. Colby will be preparing a filling and delicious meal. New members are always welcome. Please contact Chuck at cwmccullough@comcast.net with questions.

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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When my family lived in Weymouth, the route we would take to my grandparents in Rochester was Rte.18 to Rte. 105 and then down North Ave. and then Snipatuit Road. My mother always called the part of 105 that ran through Lakeville into Rochester the “hills and holes.”

            When I was teaching third grade Massachusetts history in Weymouth, we would go on two or three field trips a year. One year, I decided it was time that our third graders knew that there was more to Massachusetts than the South Shore and Boston. Consequently, we took a trip to Acushnet to pick apples, and we took the same roads my family drove, except that we stayed on 105. The children loved the trip (in part because they thought you had to go to New Hampshire to pick apples), especially the ponds we passed and the Wampanoag Cemetery site. The bus driver, on the other hand got more and more nervous the further down Rte.18 that we went and wanted to turn around in Bridgewater.

            This is a long digression from the actual topic for this week. There are two photographs with this article and another mystery to be solved. One picture shows the shoreline across from the New Bedford Waterworks and the other shows a woman in a boat. The shoreline behind her matches the shoreline in the picture from the waterworks. On the side of the boat it says, “Steamship Assawompsett.”

            So here is the mystery. There is no inscription on the back of the picture, so we don’t know who she was and when she went boating. Was this just one boat or were there more? Did they take people on excursions? Her clothing would seem to be from the late 1800s to early 1900s.

            If anyone can shed some light on the mystery of this picture, please, let me know at eshbach2@aol.com

By Connie Eshbach

Claire M. (Shannon) Carvalho

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Claire M. (Shannon) Carvalho, 83, of Mattapoisett passed away Sunday February 19, 2023, after a brief illness. She was the former wife of the late Raymond J. Carvalho.

            Born in Fall River, the daughter of the James and Mary (Souza) Shannon, she lived in Fall River and Tiverton before moving to Mattapoisett in 1968. Claire graduated from Durfee High School in 1958 and received a Bachelor of Education degree from Salve Regina University in 1962.

            Claire was a teacher at Mt. St. Mary’s Academy in Fall River and Upper Cape Regional High School in Bourne in the 1960’s and early 1970’s. She then was the S.E. Mass. Regional Director for Easter Seals for 25 years from 1973-1998. Claire later was the Director of Development at Nativity Preparatory School in New Bedford from 2005-2022. She had been honored many times for her selfless, giving and caring work and was a highly respected woman in Southeastern Massachusetts and beyond.

            Claire loved working in her garden, taking care of her German Shepherds, hosting family get-togethers, and talking politics and life. For years she was an avid runner and walker. She was so proud of her work raising millions of dollars helping children and adults with disabilities live a full life and continued the same role serving low-income young men with very challenging lives pursue such a quality education. Claire was most proud of her four sons and loved them dearly giving them the foundation in life to be successful, caring adults along with leading by example, displaying inspiration and courage needed especially during life’s challenges. She taught them nobody was better than anyone else, to serve others and the greater good, along with respecting people of all races and cultures. Claire lived by Dr. Martin Luther King’s motto “A life well served is a life serving others.” She will be dearly missed by all.

            Claire is survived by her four sons, Raymond and wife Sunny of Pinson, AL, Steven and Christopher, both of Mattapoisett, and Jeffrey and his companion Maria of Chula Vista, CA; her daughter-in-law, Carol of Mattapoisett; her siblings, James Shannon of Dartmouth and Carolyn Carvalho of Swansea; nine grandchildren and one great grandchild.

            Her funeral will be held on Saturday February 25th at 9 am from the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett, followed by her Funeral Mass at St. Anthony’s Church at 10 am. Burial will be in St. Anthony’s Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Friday February 24th from 2-6 pm. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Nativity Preparatory School, 66 Spring St., New Bedford, MA 02740. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

David J. Bolton

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David J. Bolton, 93, of Dartmouth passed away at home on Monday February 20, 2023. He was the husband of Madeline (Goley) Mello Bolton and the late Deolinda “Linda” (Ventura) Bolton.

            Born in New Bedford, the son of the late James and Elizabeth (Meehan) Bolton, he lived in Dartmouth for most of his life. He was a graduate of St. John’s Preparatory School in Danvers and the College of the Holy Cross.

            David had been the Chief Executive Officer of William McCaskie, Inc. in Westport for many years.

            During the Korean War, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps.

            He is survived by his wife Madeline; three sons, David J. Bolton, Jr., Michael P. Bolton, and Andrew J. Bolton; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; Madeline’s children, Susan Souza, Thomas Mello, and Russell Mello, and their families; and several nieces and nephews.

            He was the brother of the late Dr. James Bolton, Jr., Elizabeth Twomey, and Joseph Bolton.

            His funeral will be held on Monday February 27th at 9 am from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford, followed by his Funeral Mass at St. Julie Billiart Church at 10 am. Burial will be in Rural Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Sunday February 26th from 4-7 pm. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Front Street Addition Gets Variance

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            Kai Srisirikul will be allowed to build an addition to his house at 362 Front Street, the Marion Zoning Board of Appeals decided on February 9.

            Srisirikul was voted a special permit per Zoning Bylaw 230-6.1 to allow him to construct an addition to an existing, nonconforming dwelling. The dwelling, a cottage that Srisirikul estimates to cover approximately 900-960 square feet, would get an addition measuring roughly 26.5×12 feet.

            The current structure’s side setback sits 4.8 feet away from the property line. The addition would sit approximately a foot farther from the property line. Srisirikul told the board the front setback is up to 1.5 feet too close. He said he would have a surveyor confirm his situation but said he knows the new structure would sit farther back from the buildings on either side of his house.

            The ZBA clarified that the additional space is being created for family living space, not for the rentals that Srisirikul owns. He does not plan to add bathrooms.

            Though the property is zoned for business, Srisirikul clarified that no business is being conducted out of the address.

            Don Easterday filed a request to withdraw his request for a variance without prejudice dated January 23. On January 12, the board had voted to continue the case to February 9, pending revisions in the applicant’s plans for a two-car garage at 52 Cove Circle.

            The ZBA perused Pages 1-10 of the Village Style Smart Growth District handout. The proposal still has to go before the Planning Board. Callow told the ZBA members that while the matter is premature to discuss, she considers it wise of the ZBA to be in the loop. The Planning Board, at a later date, may request that the ZBA comment.

            The ZBA voted 5-1 to write a letter to the Community Preservation Committee supporting the contracting of a consultant to assist the Historic District Study Group.

            Callow took a moment before the meeting ended to publicly acknowledge the passing of Elizabeth S. “Betsy” Dunn of Marion, longtime former ZBA member and founding member of the Board of Health, who passed away on February 7 at age 88.

            With no cases scheduled, the Marion Zoning Board of Appeals did not announce a date for its next meeting.

Marion Zoning Board of Appeals

By Mick Colageo

Shipyard Park to Host Rare Launch

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            Steve Denette was raised on a farm in Western Massachusetts, surrounded by the wilderness, something he found both comforting and inspiring. Whether it’s leading month-long, wilderness courses, mountaineering in Yosemite or forging Class IV white water in an open canoe, Steve seems to have done it all. But one thing he’s yet to tackle is the art of sailing.

            Most people learning to sail, particularly in New England, will go the typical route of signing up for local sailing classes or perhaps learning through a relative or friend with their own boat. Steve is not most people. Rather than learning on a loaner or even purchasing a shiny, new fiberglass schooner, Steve decided to build his own.

            The finished boat, named Arabella, will be 38-feet long, made entirely from wood sourced from Steve’s family farm. That means he cuts the trees down himself, sizes the boards from the logs, forms them into shape and adheres it all together. No ordering pallets from Home Depot, no making runs to the lumber yard, this boat is about as DIY as you can get.

            “When we say ‘build’ we mean just that, from scratch, in our front yard, with our own hands,” the project website, Acorn to Arabella, reads. “Everything for Arabella will be sourced as locally as possible, this is very important to us. Almost 100% of the lumber will be harvested from our property; we mill boards on a small portable sawmill. We’ve foraged for and handled 12,000 lbs. of scrap lead for a ballast keel.”

            Yes, you heard that right. This isn’t your average canoe, after all, and it’ll have all the fancy bits and bobs a modern boat requires, including ballast keel that was smelted and poured on video. And Steven can’t take all the credit; he’s got a crack team of friends and experts helping him along, as well as sharing their remarkable story through vlogs on YouTube, their Patreon and occasionally in person to boat enthusiasts who make the trip to Western Massachusetts.

            Included on the team are: KP, a carpenter with extensive experience building boats in Maine before finding their way down to Massachusetts and into the crew of the Arabella; Ben, a theater owner, composer and video editor; and Annie B., sailor, storyteller and “tugboat in human form.”

            Of course, the most important member of the crew is Akiva, a West Siberian Laika who travels with Steve on his adventures and has become a popular guest star in the YouTube videos documenting the building process.

            Annie recalled that it was important to Steve to learn to sail on a boat he made himself. It certainly gives new meaning to starting with the fundamentals. Starting from the ground up meant selecting a design to follow, and for those less sea-savvy, it should be noted that there’s a lot of different types of boats. Big ones, small ones, ones made for comfort and ones made for speed. Materials are taken into account as well: Not all boats can be wooden, so they needed to find a blueprint that would fit with their specific vision.

            Enter the Atkin family of boatbuilders.

            “The name Atkin has long been associated with the best in basic boats. If you are looking for “the right little boat” to build – or have built – or if you just like to dream over boat plans – you’ll be delighted with the wooden boat design collections of John (1918-1999) and William (1882-1962) Atkin,” reads the Atkin website. “Having provided three generations with practical, well-proven wooden boat designs, our site offers more than 300 designs, including famed Atkin double-enders, traditional offshore and coastal cruising yachts, rowing/sailing dinghies, utilities and houseboats.”

            Steve had hit the mother lode.

            “After a lot of reading and research, I ended up on the Atkin website and really loved their tagline: ‘Individualized Designs for Unregimented Yachtsmen.’ That sure described me!” Steve recalls. He landed on the Ingrid hull, as Arabella will be a craft both lived on and traveled with, with enough room for a few friends while still being capable of being sailed by a single crewmember.

            The whole endeavor started back in 2016 and has taken on a much larger life, the weekly YouTube videos amassing an online following of hundreds of thousands that spilled over into the real world, which led to the planning of a public launch in 2023.

            Annie recounted looking at different places in Massachusetts they could host such an event. The shipyard would need to be logistically suited for launching the Arabella, as well as hosting the crowd of boat-heads there to watch the project’s culmination. Mattapoisett’s own Shipyard Park stood out to her as an incredible aesthetic location on top of prime launching ground. She recalled wandering around the park, taking pictures and videos before spotting the harbormaster. After a quick explanation of what she was looking for, she was met with open arms and a jaunty “Mattapoisett is ready for you!”

            The launch is scheduled for June 17 at 10:00 am and promises to be a rip-roaring time. For more information about the endeavor, you can visit AcornToArabella.com, which also sports links to their YouTube and Patreon as well as updates and an emailing list about the project and the launch. Extra-curious readers can learn more about the design of the boat, the Atkin family and Steve and the crew’s journey. Those unable to attend the launch can catch sight of the finished craft at the WoodenBoat Show at Mystic Seaport on the weekend of June 23-25.

By Jack MC Staier

Mattapoisett Library Watercolor Events

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Visit the library this week and next to participate in Weird and Wonderful Watercolors. Starting Saturday, February 25 at 1 pm, join us for Weird and Wonderful Watercolors for Adults and Teens. We will create beautiful watercolor paintings using surprising materials: water-based markers, sharpies, artists’ Bristol paper and white crayons. Participants will be able to explore the art form and can create up to three unique watercolor paintings. Recommended for ages 12 and up.

            A second Weird and Wonderful Watercolors will take place specifically for children on Tuesday, February 28 at 3:15 pm. This event will function very similarly to the previous, but catering to children ages 6 and up.

            As a bonus, both of these events will begin work on a community acrylic painting, and all participants will have the opportunity to contribute. When the paintings are complete, they will be on display in the library.

            Registration is required for both programs.

            All programs are free and open to the public. If you have any questions or need special accommodations, please contact the library at 508-758-4171 or email mflp@sailsinc.org.

The MAC Seeks ArtStart Teachers, Theater Directors and Technicians

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The Marion Art Center is seeking a music teacher and a theater teacher for ArtStart 2023, the summer program for kids ages 4.5-9. Teachers are expected to be available for all five weeks of the program, which runs for Mon-Fri, 9:00 am-12:30 pm late June through July. Some exceptions may be made for occasional days off as needed. Those interested should send a letter of interest, a resume with relevant work experience and a list of any conflicting dates during the summer program to info@marionartcenter.org with “ArtStart teacher application” in the subject line. The program director will reach out to potential candidates for interviews. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until positions are filled. Learn more at marionartcenter.org/artstart.

            The MAC Theater is searching for play directors and sound/lighting interns or assistants. The Marion Art Center Theater produces up to five plays each year. Productions run the gamut from poignant dramas to laugh-out-loud musicals, all made possible by volunteer performers and crews passionate about creating theater of the highest quality. The stage has a professional lighting and sound system, and the intimate 60+ person theater was recently updated. The MAC offers a wonderful local theater experience to anyone who wants to get behind the scenes and join our troop of actors and stage crew. Directors and technicians both receive a stipend for each production. Training is available for those with limited experience who are interested. The MAC is a member of the Eastern Massachusetts Association of Community Theaters (EMACT). Interested parties should send name, contact info, and a resume or list of relevant work experience to info@marionartcenter.org with “MAC Theater Director” or “MAC Theater Tech” in the subject line.

Residents Can Opt Out of Aggregate

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            John O’Rourke of Good Energy came to the Rochester Senior Center on February 15 to explain a plan that will lower the townspeople’s electricity bills.

            His company has helped Rochester and five other towns in the region reach a Community Aggregate Agreement with electricity supplier Direct Energy that will charge residents a lower fixed rate for electrical service. The town’s rate will be 16.31 cents per kilowatt hour, rather than Eversource’s current Basic Service rate for residential customers of 25.649 cents per kWh.

            O’Rourke emphasized last Wednesday night that residents now face a deadline to decide on whether to opt out of this new program. Otherwise, residential and business customers in town will be enrolled automatically.

            A letter has been sent to all Rochester residential electricity customers that this is the new program’s Launch and Customer Notification period for what is called the Rochester Community Electricity program. Residents had 30 days, until February 20, to notify the company that they wish to not join in.

            The opt-out options were: Postmark and mail the card enclosed with the notification letter, call Direct Energy at 866-968-8065 or submit an opt-out form at Electricity.TownOfRochesterMass.com.

            The 16.310-cents-per- kWh rate will be for Standard residential service, O’Rourke said. The rate will be 17.850 cents per kWh for Rochester Plus customers who add renewable energy to the supply mix. The electricity generator will remain Eversource.

            The new rate will appear on the March meter reading and will be valid until December 2024, said O’Rourke, adding that his company will seek going out to bid for a new supplier contract months earlier, in the summer of 2024.

            Direct Energy was chosen under a competitive bid process that involved both town officials and Good Energy personnel in the decision-making, Select Board Chairman Woody Hartley explained.

            The other five communities under this agreement are Cohasset, Marshfield, Scituate, Westwood and Uxbridge.

            Hartley then elaborated on why such a program was not pursued sooner. He said the Select Board opposed the idea in 2016. He urged reconsidering that opposition when he became a Select Board member, and the proposal passed overwhelmingly at a recent town meeting.

            “Massachusetts has the highest tax rate in the nation,” O’Rourke noted. “At a 14-, 16-cent rate, you’re still below average with this program.”

Rochester Select Board

By Michael J. DeCicco