Center School Seth Thomas Clock Funding Approved

The Mattapoisett Community Preservation Committee reviewed several applications for Community Preservation Act funds and voted to approve four community projects for funding. Under the Community Preservation Act, communities elect to use a portion of their property taxes to fund open space, recreational, historical and housing initiatives.

Applications that were approved to be placed for recommendation on the annual Town Meeting warrant were:

• $25,000 for an affordable housing trust to study the need and potential locations for senior housing for Mattapoisett residents.

• $51,500, as requested by Ray Andrews, to be combined with private funding to remove, repair, and reinstall the Seth Thomas clock at the Center School. The 1898 weight pendulum clock was recently removed by Balzer Family Clock Works, of Freeport, ME, for restoration.

“For the first time in 113 years, the clock [will] be viewable by the public,” Mr. Andrews had said on October 20, 2011, in a presentation to the CPC. “It’s the town’s jewel. It’s a historical artifact.”

• $25,000, as requested by Barry Denham of the Cushing cemetery corporation, to repair a 19th century wrought iron fence alongside the cemetery, abutting Acushnet and Mendell Roads.

• $37,000 as requested by Bonne DeSousa and Stephen Kelleher of the Mattapoisett Bike Path Committee, for engineering and legal work needed on a YMCA/Reservation Golf Course easement. The easement would help achieve Phase 1B of the project, which would connect the bike path to Depot Street.

A $300,000 request from the Coalition for Buzzard’s Bay to purchase land in the Brandt Island/Nasketucket Bay area was not approved by the CPC for placement on the annual Town Meeting warrant.

Mattapoisett’s next annual Town Meeting will take place in May 2012.

By Anne Kakley