The Budget Subcommittee for the Mattapoisett School District met on December 10 to discuss the fiscal year 2022 budget.

            Mattapoisett School Committee Chairman Jim Muse and committee member Shannon Finning attended the meeting, along with Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson, ORR Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber, Mattapoisett Schools Principal Rose Bowman, ORR Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Janell Pearson-Campbell, and ORR Director of Student Services Craig Davidson.

            Acknowledging the new faces at ORR’s Central Office, Nelson explained how most school districts are concerned about enrollment and its impact on Chapter 70 funding and the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Specific to ORR, he said the school district is in Year 3 of its 2023 strategic plan and that this is a negotiation year with teachers.

            Barber said he expects budgetary hardships given the tone of state-level information coming down. Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, ORR is taking an “all funds budget approach” based upon high components and then some strategies.

            Muse said that Mattapoisett schools receive capital funds from the town, but those are not guaranteed. “It has been a means of providing necessary funding for necessary things,” he said, specifically health insurance premiums, something he considers a “big piece of the upcoming conversation,” even though he said the town provides insurance.

            Finning, remarking from a taxpayer’s perspective and thinking about the town’s assessment, thought families should ask budget makers how they would address the gap in literacy. “I’m aware of many who withdrew their children for parochial schools. Are we going to reach out to them?” she asked. “Class size was a big driver on why we chose Mattapoisett— Mrs. Bowman and class size.”

            Barber said he reviewed the school buildings with ORR Facilities Director Gene Jones and, with a new presidency, he said he anticipates potential extensions to be granted. “We don’t even know what our Chapter 70 [funding is] going to be,” he said.

            “We’re all very cognizant of the fact the resources from the town next year might be different,” said Bowman. She said the only anticipated faculty change is a retiring teacher at Center School.

            Kindergarten enrollment for the 2021-22 academic year will be determined in February, said Bowman. The 48-50 number that entered kindergarten over the last few years is stabilizing with three sections of 18-22 children per room. Bowman said some parochial students’ families have indicated their children will be back in Mattapoisett schools.

            Citing 10 students who registered for Grade 2 during the summer, Bowman said, “So, unusual things happen.” She expressed gratitude that the town has put curriculum on a separate line item and has purchased “Go Math” covers for Grades 2-6. The schools are saving money on paper products, thanks to Chromebooks.

            Addressing the gap in literacy, Bowman said Grades 1 and 2 were her concern. “Leaning on the consistency of the teachers and the AIMSweb (Achievement Improvement Monitoring System) … I’m confident we’re going to be able to know what areas of math and reading we need to focus on,” she said.

            The student population per grade ranges between 49 and 55 students, except for Grade 2 entering Grade 3 next year.

            Bowman said that the town has been generous with capital funding. She added that faculty had learned a great deal about technology for each grade level. “I have been careful about asking people for things that will be too big a stretch,” she said.

            Pearson-Campbell told the meeting that she had sent a document with initiatives and a look at software packages and added how much she enjoyed listening to Bowman’s report.

            Davidson said he would be working with Bowman and Associate Principal Kevin Tavares to focus on individual students and needs, identify trends in learning profiles, and determine what interventions are needed.

            Barber said he would like to unify the software and learning platforms to be the same in all Tri-Town elementary schools. He intends to meet this month with Mattapoisett Town Administrator Mike Lorenco and the Tri-Town’s other town administrators. “That will allow us to propose the budget more clearly,” he said. “We want to keep a unified perspective.”

            Barber’s goals are to propose a budget to the School Committee in January 2021, have a budget hearing in February, and meet by March 29 to finalize, clarify, and prepare the budget for the Annual Town Meeting.

            Barber said he estimates a weekly budget meeting over the next six weeks to complete the budget process efficiently. The next two weeks would include a lot of discussion and, pending what the governor says, the fourth and fifth weeks might not require a meeting.

            Muse said he is okay with weekly meetings, but that Barber should not need to report weekly, especially if a committee meeting is already scheduled.

            “The pandemic, it hits people hard and hits people with different abilities harder…. We don’t know when this is going to be over,” said Muse. “One of the fears I have is district placements are going to start to decrease. We can’t support them. This may mean some short-term investments. I want Mr. Davidson to know and to bring that to his attention, and these are not resources that should not be fought for.” Muse said he hopes Davidson will continue to look for the resources to keep ORR a truly inclusive district.

            Finning said she is available every week and willing to make the budget subcommittee a priority and said “engagement is extra important” for the Board of Selectmen.

            Barber agreed.

            From a historical perspective, Muse said that members of the Finance Committee have sat on the Budget Subcommittee and that the Board of Selectmen has relied on the Finance Committee for updates. “We do need and want the support of the selectmen. That normally has occurred because we’ve had open dialogues with the town administrator as well as the Finance Committee,” he said.

            Having helped prepare budgets for many years, Bowman said, “It’s been an outstanding process to have somebody from the Finance [Committee] to be with us [providing a] clear dialogue from the Finance [Committee] to the selectmen. Mr. Lorenco is now the town administrator, but the huge difference for us has been that the town has supported curriculum.”

            Nelson said he would share the budget with the Finance Committee and intends to meet with Barber and Lorenco to make the budget process “transparent, but, more importantly, thorough.”

            ORR Central Office Executive Assistant Diana Russo will take the lead on scheduling further Budget Subcommittee meetings.

Mattapoisett School Committee

By Mick Colageo

            On December 14, the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission heard the details for septic system upgrades for one of the commissioners. An abutter, Ken Rocha, asked to be heard.

            The Request for Determination of Applicability filed by Chapman Dickerson and Melanie Dixson, 6 River Road, was represented by Rick Charon of Charon Associates, a civil engineering firm. Charon described the project in which an up-to-date septic system would replace a failing cesspool. Charon said that a test pit demonstrated a water level of 76 inches and that computer modeling was employed to calculate groundwater separation from the leach field.

            Rocha took exception to the entire plan. He began his comments by saying, “This has been in violation for over 15 years,” adding that it was a shame the commission hadn’t “picked this up” earlier for the protection of the environment. Rocha questioned the percolation test’s accuracy and said he found the expected new elevation of 15 inches “preposterous.”

            Chairman Mike King attempted to bring Rocha back to issues that the commission has jurisdiction over, namely the riverfront. King told Rocha that his comments should be directed to the Board of Health, which has regulatory oversight of the septic system itself.

            Determined to be heard, Rocha said he has over 30 years of experience as a biologist. He claimed the system design had been manipulated to squeeze it into available space on the property. King told Rocha his three minutes for public comment had expired and again identified the Board of Health as the place where his concerns should be heard.

            Charon again described the system, the use of modeling, and the site conditions, contradicting Rocha’s contention that the drought had affected the calculations. “That property is not any different from others.… It’s not fair that others have spent 30 to 40 thousand (dollars) on their systems,” Rocha insisted. King again stated, “This is a hearing for a septic upgrade. You are free to raise concerns with the Board of Health.” Rocha attempted to say more, but Charon broke in, saying, “I beg your pardon, sir, this is a first-class, septic-system repair. I find this very offensive.”

            King asked the commissioners for their decision after closing the public hearing. The filing received a Negative determination of applicability. Dickerson, who had recused himself from the meeting, returned for the balance of matters being heard on this night.

            Receiving approval for RDA filings were Clinton Schwamb, 4 Dyer Road, with an after-the-fact filing for the construction of a gravel driveway; Douglas and Claire King, 12 Union Street, for a deck expansion and driveway improvements; and Scott Kruger, 6 Pine Street, for improvements to an existing residence.

            The Mattapoisett Land Trust also received approval for an RDA that will allow the organization to create a small parking area and perform trail improvements on the property now known as the Oliver Wendall Holmes Preserve off Angelica Avenue.

            A Notice of Intent hearing was continued until December 28 after being opened for Craig and Elaine Bovaird, 2 Oliver Street, for renovation to an existing residence, including a patio, gravel driveway, and deck. It was noted that the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection had made no comments on the proposed changes.

            The Town of Mattapoisett received an Order of Conditions for the construction of a bike path at the end of Industrial Drive. Jake Carmody of TEC said they were still working with MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program on a turtle protection plan.  Since this project would not be fully funded for some time to come, Carmody sought to have replication areas put on hold for now.

            King suggested and received agreement from the commissioners and Conservation Agent Liz Leidhold to approve and condition the entire project now with protections to the replication area, erosion controls, endangered animals, stormwater management systems, and flagging, among others. The plan is for the section between the end of the paved road known as Industrial Drive and the Marion town line to be improved first with grant and donation funding in hand. This work was described as having “no impact on wetlands,” Carmody stated.

            The commissioners moved to accept BETA Engineering as the peer-review consultant for the proposed Randall Lane, LLC solar array, noting that the Planning Board had previously selected this group to oversee the site plan review.

            King reported that work related to an Enforcement Order at the residence of Daniel Craig, 4 Seabreeze Lane, was taking place and in compliance with cooperation on all fronts. Town Administrator Mike Lorenco responded to Craig’s attorney, who wondered aloud about the enforcement filing still before the Superior Court. Lorenco said as long as the process continues, a dismissal was likely. He thanked everyone involved for this result.

            This next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission is scheduled for December 28 at 6:30 pm.

Mattapoisett Conservation Commission

By Marilou Newell

            It’s been a long time in the making, but at last, Mattapoisett’s Master Plan will get an overhaul and update now that the committee of volunteers has been sworn in. Their first meeting was held on December 9.

            This meeting and the entire Master Plan process will be navigated through completion by Southeastern Region Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) with Grant King as the SRPEDD guide. King said early on in the meeting that, while SRPEDD would be involved, that role would be to act as advisers, consultants, and the recording secretary for the committee. He said SRPEDD had guided the Town of Marion in recent years as that town wrote its updated master plan.

            “[SRPEDD] Should be considered your editors in chief,” said King.

            It is a large committee with 19 members, but committee member Katherine Connelly wondered whether the committee fairly represented a diverse cross-section of the entire community. King responded by turning the question back to the committee, asking its members to decide if the committee comprises all sectors. He said based on the town’s population data, that would, in fact, be the case.

            Mattapoisett’s population has been described as aging. The 2010 census indicates that 96 percent of the town’s population is white, 1 percent African American, with all other racial groups comprising the balance. Income levels were pegged at $68,000 per intact household, and nearly 50 percent of the population at that time was between ages 45 and 65. In 2010 the number of residents stood at 6,400.

            Planning Board Chairman Tom Tucker said he thought the committee reflected the community with the exception of young people below the voting age. He had stated in the past that, because young people would be inheriting the community, he believed they should have a voice in the drafting of a Master Plan that would affect their future. King assured the committee that the Master Plan process would be viable, saying, “Don’t get lost in the numbers.” He said, given the caliber of the individuals who volunteered for a seat on the committee, “The quality is there; you are very competent and focused.”

            Regarding the Planning Board’s authority over the process and the final document, King said that the state guidelines indicate that only the Planning Board need approve the final plan before it goes to Town Meeting, but that most communities seek residents’ input. On December 9, all five Planning Board members: Tucker, Janice Robbins, Arlene Fidalgo, Nathan Ketchel, and Karen Field, were present and Planning Board Administrator Mary Crain.

            Representing other town board or community organizations on the committee: Colby Rottler (Finance Committee and Zoning Board of Appeals), Bob Burgmann (Capital Planning), Sandra Herring (Tree Committee), Paul Osenkowski (Mattapoisett Land Trust), Robin Lepore (Friends of the Mattapoisett Bike Path), Carole Clifford (Mattapoisett Museum and Mattapoisett Woman’s Club), Carlos DeSousa (Marine Advisory Board), and Shirley Haley (Council on Aging). Other members are Mary Dermody, Mike Rosa, Kate Haley, David Horowitz, Paul Criscuolo, Donna Shea, Chrystal Walsh, Cecile Sanders, Aaron Smith, and Yasmin Flefleh-Vincent.

            King said that moving forward, the committee should plan for workshops in preparation for drafting the new plan a year from now. He said he wanted the group to tackle matters such as land use, housing, and economic development first. To help jump-start the process, he asked the members to review master plans from other committees, including Marion’s.

            The committee will meet again on January 6 and February 3 at 7:00 pm. A workshop will be held on February 21 at 6:30 pm. All meetings are public and will be duly advertised with login/call-in details.

Mattapoisett Master Plan Committee

By Marilou Newell