Mattapoisett’s Community Preservation Committee oversees the grant application process for monies dedicated under the state’s Community Preservation Act to special projects not covered by the town’s general operating budget or other financial instrument.

            The committee studies the applications to ensure they qualify under the state guidelines for grants in one of several categories including historic sites, outdoor recreation, open space and affordable housing. Monies are collected from a surcharge on property taxes up to three percent. Mattapoisett’s surcharge is one percent after the first $100,000. Other funding sources the town receives from the program come from state distribution via the CPA Trust Fund.

            Throughout the late fall and winter months, grants have been accepted and vetted by the CPC for FY23. Those that are accepted and positively voted on are then sent forward to further review by the Finance Committee and Select Board. Grants applications passing muster become part of the Spring Town Meeting warrant for either acceptance or decline by the voters.

            This year’s grants being forwarded after receiving a positive vote from the CPC on March 4 are: a request by the Mattapoisett Historical Commission for $12,500 to hire a professional historic preservationist to conduct a state-accredited, town-wide review of historic places to help identify and eventually record qualifying structures and locations as having historic value and recognition. This study will not limit property owners’ ability to renovate their homes but may identify a home as possessing historic value such as age of the original structure.

            A grant request in the amount of $12,500 submitted by Select Board member Jodi Bauer is for the restoration and replication of the swordfish weathervane, which has been a prominent feature on the wharves at Shipyard Park for decades. The original swordfish is planned to be donated to the Mattapoisett Museum and a replica put in its place. The original could no longer be repaired and put on display in the elements.

            The Mattapoisett Bike Path Study Committee requested $120,000 to complete several key studies including a viable design for Phase 2a crossing North Street at Industrial Drive and private property easements and wetland impacts along the proposed path using the former railroad easement.

            Also requested in part by Bauer is a grant in the amount of $55,000 for the renovation of two basketball courts located at Center School and the construction of two additional pickleball courts adjacent to the school.

            Next stop for the grants, the Mattapoisett Finance Committee.

            Capital Planning met on February 28 and again on March 7. During the February 28 meeting, the committee met with Old Rochester Regional School District Facilities Director Gene Jones. He explained the need for nearly $97,000 to replace 21-year-old controllers associated with the Center School’s HVAC system. He was asked by the committee if there were established maintenance schedules for the variety of mechanical and electronic systems used throughout the schools. Jones explained such schedules in detail.

            The Capital Planning Committee again asked Jones to document all capital needs, regardless if they are an operating expense or capital expense, in an effort to capture all major expenses for review – not necessarily on the Capital Plan spreadsheet.

            The Capital Plan lists the FY23 requests from the local schools as $12,500 for Center School master clock upgrades, floor repairs and replacement at Old Hammondtown School $25,000, and roof repairs at OHS $100,000. The planned funding source is from free cash.

            Regarding the high school’s outdoor track repairs, Town Administrator Mike Lorenco said that it was unclear how the three towns would handle paying for the project but estimated that Mattapoisett’s portion would be around $153,000 of an estimated project cost of $422,000. CPC Chairman Chuck McCullough stated in a follow-up that capital expenses for the ORR junior and senior high schools do not fall under the town’s planning preview but are reviewed as a necessary part of the town’s overall financial planning.

            Later in the discussion, Lorenco shared long-range ideas for the use of the town property known as the Holy Ghost Grounds. He said that one goal is to use the building as rental space for family gatherings and an income source for the town. Lorenco said the Recreation Department also has ideas for the parcel as does the Bike Path Study Committee. On the subject of the Recreation Department, he said that in the coming years that department is likely to grow, that the Select Board is reviewing it and that study of the future of the department may be warranted including how and where the bike path fits into the picture.

            The March 7 meeting featured capital-planning needs of the Highway Department. After discussion of equipment needs that include the replacement of a truck estimated at $240,000, talk turned towards the overall roadway conditions.

            Highway Surveyor Garrett Bauer said that there are 47 roadways in good condition, 42 in fair condition and another 37 in poor condition. He described various types of roadway repair, offering a glimmer of hope that many roads would hold up with simple sealing applications. But the overarching financial impact of roadway work could not be denied. Lorenco said that the $250,000 per year sum placed in the Capital Plan for highway work is a placeholder for ongoing maintenance, not large projects.

            Large projects looming on the horizon include village streets (Main, Water, Beacon and Marion Road,) culverts throughout the town and aging or nonexistent drainage systems.

            Bauer noted the recent culvert failure in front of the entranceway to the town’s beach on Water Street, saying that the entire drainage system from Route 6 to the harbor is aging and insufficient. McCullough stressed that the residents in the community need to understand the magnitude and scope of repairs needed on roadways, while making decisions on how best to finance such projects and what priority to place on each.

            When asked about the Industrial Drive project, Lorenco said that the roadway work will be funded by a federal grant and local match but that the bike-path portion is not currently funded and was not part of the original design of that roadway.

            The Capital Planning Committee’s spreadsheet for FY23 needs totals $1,692,000 against $882,000 in available free cash. Line-item requests will be prioritized before sending the vetted report onto the Finance Committee and Select Board for final review ahead of Town Meeting.

            Mattapoisett’s Finance Committee met on March 3, continuing their review of the FY23 budget

draft. Coming before the committee to discuss the Waterfront Enterprise Fund budget was Harbormaster Jamie McIntosh, who defended a $7,000 increase for seasonal staffing by sharing the competitive nature of the labor market and the need to hire people experienced in boat handling and wharf-side activities as well as customer service. He said he wants to offer $18 per hour to wharfingers and $22 per hour to two deputy harbormasters.

            McIntosh also touched on capital needs of $30,000 to pay for a professionally produced, state-recognized Harbor Management Plan, $70,000 for additional floating docks, $8,000 for dredging and $10,000 for materials to repair the timber pier.

            The FY22 budget for the Waterfront Enterprise Fund was $309,353 and is slated to be $326,353 in FY23, a total increase of $17,000.

            Regarding the planned reconstruction of Long Wharf aka Brownell Wharf, McIntosh was asked what impact that work would have on seasonal boating. “It depends on what they find during the assessment. We’ll determine that after the evaluation is done,” said McIntosh. “It will be an interesting obstacle to overcome … with a possible miss of $12,000 during the time.”

            McIntosh also stated earlier in the discussion that plans are to hold on to $40,000 in retained earnings.

            The CPC has concluded its FY23 season. The next meeting of the Finance Committee is scheduled for Thursday, March 10, at 5:00 pm jointly with the Select Board. The Capital Planning Committee will meet on Monday, March 14, at 6:00 pm.

Mattapoisett Community Preservation, Capital Planning and Finance Committees

By Marilou Newell

            Once a decision was made, the Town of Rochester wasted no time in getting its future ducks in a row. On Monday night, the Select Board voted to approve an interim arrangement that will enable Glenn Cannon to take office as new town administrator on Monday, March 28.

            Cannon was scheduled to replace current Town Administrator Suzanne Szyndlar effective July 1, but this improvisation will allow Szyndlar to officially relinquish her title three months ahead of schedule and serve as an interim assistant town administrator until her own contract expires on June 30. Having served as the town accountant prior to and in conjunction with her role as town administrator, Szyndlar will stay with Rochester and on July 1 assume a newly created title of Finance director on a three-year contract.

            The opportunity to use April, May and June to smooth the leadership transition was attractive to all stakeholders.

            “I am excited to start work. I thank Suzanne for taking the (assistant’s) role … the years and knowledge will be extremely helpful as I start work,” said Cannon, who had been serving in the assistant’s role for the Town of Bourne and most recently has been Bourne’s acting town administrator, an interim role while the town awaited the arrival of its own new hire.

            Cannon has agreed with Rochester on a contract based on $130,000 in annual base salary, the term of which is three years and three additional months tacked onto the front of his service. He will earn $130,000 the first year, $135,000 the second year and $140,000 the third.

            Allen Decker, director of Land Protection for the Buzzards Bay Coalition, appeared before the Select Board seeking approval for two conservation restrictions that will pave the way for new farming operations at Doggett Brook Farm. “We’re interested in seeing it stay in agricultural use, and we’ve found a buyer,” said Decker.

            The 58-acre property site sits on the south side of Marion Road (Route 105) east of Rochester’s village area. Doggett Brook provides a southern boundary to the land, which at its southeast corner kisses the Marion town line.

            The conservation restrictions are to be co-held by the Buzzards Bay Coalition and the Rochester Land Trust. As Decker explained, one is a principal (farm) CR that encourages and allows for 37 acres of agricultural use. The other is a “buffer CR” that will avoid agricultural use down to the brook.

            “We are going to encourage vegetation restoration and habitat restoration to the brook … we are going to allow agricultural use north of that area,” said Decker. “This area will have public access to explore the brook. We have interests with landowners to place a small parking area for ease of access, and we’ll establish a trail that will not interfere with the farming area.”

            The land is a Massachusetts Wildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species registered area, and Decker told the Select Board that the Rochester Conservation Commission has already given its support for the plan. Houses have been removed, and only a small shed presently stands on the property.

            When Select Board member Paul Ciaburri asked if the land will be exclusively used for farming, Decker said, “We’re not forcing them to farm, we’re encouraging them. That’s their interest, why we’re selling to them. There’s no future development. There will be no additional subdivision.”

            A unanimous vote followed both conservation-restriction requests, and with Select Board Chairman Brad Morse away from the area only Ciaburri’s and Vice Chairman Woody Hartley’s signatures were needed.

            Under Correspondence, Xfinity’s annual resolved complaint notice was discussed, as Town Counsel Blair Bailey explained to attendees that the cable/internet company must notify Rochester officials of complaints received. Hartley pointed out that Rochester has 946 “very understanding customers in Rochester. “They got two complaints,” he said.

            In her Town Administrator’s Report, Szyndlar told the board that Joanne O’Rourke of Good Energy will appear before the board to discuss a Community Electricity aggregation plan. Hartley will serve as the town’s designated bid representative, and Cannon will be the alternative bid representative.

            Szyndlar reported that Simple Recycling wants to move from curbside to scheduled pickup, citing the rapidly rising costs of labor and fuel and their impact to the supply chains. The company is looking to transition as soon as possible, according to Szyndlar, who suggested phasing the change over a 30-day period. Szyndlar said she will post the resultant plan on the town website effective May 1.

            Morse suggested another tri-town Select Board meeting with Marion and Mattapoisett counterparts to discuss part of the capital expenditure material in the Old Rochester Regional School District agreement. The current arrangement, said Bailey, allows ORR to set aside up to 5 percent per year of the total assessment ($800,000 a year).

            “There has to be (a capital account),” said Bailey, noting that the more crucial question is the amount in the account. “If you look at their capital plan, none of the projects … most only come up to 3 percent. Not that I don’t trust you, but I’m not paid to trust people.”

            With Morse away from home and attending the meeting remotely, Hartley presided over Monday’s Select Board meeting.

            Ciaburri told the board he intends to attend a March 23 meeting with the Plymouth County Advisory Committee about ARPA funding.

            The next meeting of the Rochester Select Board is scheduled for Monday, March 21, at 6:00 pm.

Rochester Select Board

By Mick Colageo