The Mattapoisett Finance Committee has been diligently studying and commenting on the Fall Special Town Meeting Warrant for many meetings. On October 10, while Town Administrator Michael Gagne presented the committee with the recently signed warrant, he focused the committee’s attention on a number of public works projects, most of which are in whole or in part included in the warrant.
Gagne noted that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation requires Mattapoisett to provide an engineering proposal for improvements planned for Main Street, Water Street, Beacon Street, and Marion Road. He said that the town was currently on the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for funds that would be released in 2022. Estimated costs were not included.
Another village street discussed was Pearl Street and its need for roadway improvements and a sidewalk. Gagne said that the pedestrian crossing from the senior housing complex across Route 6 to Pearl Street represented a problem due to the absence of sidewalks once people reached the northern border of Pearl Street. He also said the plan would correct drainage issues along Pearl Street and Tobey Lane. This project, said Gagne, would be submitted for the 2020 Annual Town Meeting with a request for $70,000 for design and engineering.
Staying on the theme of the improvements needed on residential streets, Gagne noted that numerous subdivisions constructed between the 1950’s and ‘70s lacked drainage designs. He said the preliminary plan starts with design, engineering, and cost estimating solutions for Holly Lane, Wildwood Terrace, Knollwood Drive and areas off North Street north of I-195. A request for $150,000 is included in Article 20 for this project.
Regarding research and study conducted by SRPEDD on the Route 6 corridor, Gagne said the town would be hosting a series of presentations on the findings with a public hearing being conducted after the New Year.
An issue that arose after the design for the new fire station was discussed. While drainage issues associated with the police station parcel are included, a new emergency vehicle exit on the easternmost boundary of the property is also needed, Gagne said. This new exit will ease vehicle movement on Hubbard’s Way. He said that traffic signals on Route 6 are also planned, with the town’s share estimated at $30,000; the balance will come from a grant.
Cost estimates for the new emergency roadway stand at $23,000.
Gagne also discussed planned improvements for Industrial Drive reminding the committee that grants could bring in as much as $1.5 million. The town’s share would be $1.7 million. This project is included in Article 20.
“We are seeking Town Meeting’s approval (of Article 20),” said Gagne “It is our intent to fund this appropriation’s yearly principal and interest payments out of funds we have been accumulating in our Debt Stabilization Fund. In FY20 we will have half a million in this fund… We put funds at each annual town meeting from the Levy in this fund, and we will continue to fund projects such as this under the tax levy limit of Proposition 2 ½.”
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Finance Committee is scheduled for October 16 at 9:00 am at the Town Hall in the Town Administrator’s Office or the conference room.
Mattapoisett Finance Committee
By Marilou Newell