Mattapoisett Select Board Chairman Jordan Collyer told the other board members and the public that discussions with Old Rochester Regional School District Superintendent Mike Nelson had taken place. Included in that discussion was Finance Committee Chairman Pat Donoghue, who had previously urged her committee not to support the FY23 local school budget as drafted but to seek a zero budget increase and a plan from the Mattapoisett School Committee that would bring school spending down.
Collyer said, “They understand our displeasure with the increase and now have a 2-percent decrease. It’s not ideal but going in the right direction.” Collyer said that Nelson agreed to work closely with the town throughout the year with the ultimate goal of “complete transparency of per-pupil costs.” He said that Nelson wants full transparency as well. Collyer added that during the year-long process “…we’d look at a whole bunch of stuff.” Collyer said Nelson understood, “where we need to be.” Collyer also shared that the topic of school consolidation was touched on.
In March, the draft local school FY23 budget stood at $8,039,560. A 2-percent decrease cuts $160,791 off the bottom line.
The Friends of the Mattapoisett Bike Path came before the board seeking and receiving authority to apply for a $6,400,000 federal grant. FOMBP members Robin Lepore and Rene Pothier said they had just learned of the grant opportunity in mid-March and that the last day to apply is April 14, thus time is of the essence. Lepore said as she waited to come before the board she had begun writing the application and on this night was ready to answer questions while hoping for the green light to move forward.
The federal grant is part of a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure program, Lepore said. She said that the group had applied previously for similar funding but was passed over. Now, with more fully fleshed out designs and some shovel-ready elements, Lepore believes the town’s chances are good this time around. She said that the town’s match would be 20 percent or $1,200,000 but that those costs might be covered by state grants and monies already earmarked for grant matches.
Present via Zoom was state Representative William Straus who said that he has focused his efforts at the state level and Phase 2a easements but believes, “The more the merrier … why not federal monies? It might help getting state grants in the future, and it doesn’t conflict with the state’s efforts to get the bike path to North Street.”
If this large federal grant is secured, it would cover all design and construction costs associated with Phases 2a and 2b, the last two segments linking Mattapoisett to the west with Fairhaven and to the east with Marion.
Select Board member Jodi Bauer expressed her concern that the town would have to pony up more than $1,000,000. Town Administrator Mike Lorenco said that presently the town has over $600,000 for grant matches. “I’m less concerned about grant matches than about federal requirements,” he said.
Collyer added that on Friday, April 8, he would be meeting with members of the engineering and management teams from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to walk Phase 1b, which has been held up due to defective planking installed on the bridge over the Eel Pond breach and barrier beach along Godspeed Island.
Collyer said the meeting would include going over a construction punch list with the intent to try and open one section soon. A recent fire that damaged an older existing wooden span over Eel Pond River would have to be repaired, however, before considering such an option. He said that new planks were being tested, and if all goes well replacement could take place, but timing was still unknown. Collyer added that MassDOT will pay all the costs associated with the planking issues.
In other business, Lorenco said that VHB, the engineering firm engaged to design roadway improvements for the village streets project, was seeking an additional $41,107 for an additional 150 hours needed to bring the project to 75-percent design completion. Collyer said he wants to speak directly with the VHB team to find out exactly where the project stands and what benchmarks remain.
Lorenco reported on several ongoing projects. He said that Child Engineering has completed some evaluations including diving around Long Wharf. He anticipates a preliminary report in May. The UMass Boston Collins Center team that has been evaluating school space and the transfer station will provide reports in May, he said. Complete Street funding has been used to purchase signage for the intersection of Mattapoisett Neck Road and the bike path, Lorenco said, and that those signs along with others planned for North Street would be installed this spring. The contract for the roadway improvements planned for Industrial Drive has been signed, he confirmed, but no construction start date has been set. He also reported that work is about to begin on infrastructure improvements to upper Pearl Street.
Good news for those who enjoy a walk in the woods; Lorenco said that the Tinkham Forest Trails would be opening now that legal work has been completed. This open space, part of early negotiations with the developers of the Bay Club will grant access to all Mattapoisett residents through several access points around the subdivision.
Town Meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 9, at 6:30 pm at the ORR High School auditorium. Lorenco said there will be 24 articles, seven or eight of which are related to the Water and Sewer departments. Lorenco said that one article would ask for funding for the Police Department accreditation, a process that can take several years. He said of Town Meeting, “It should be pretty straightforward.”
The Select Board approved a wine-and-malt license to Mike Sudofsky for a new market at the Ropewalk plaza called Poi Market. Issues that had slowed the progress of construction were now resolved, all agreed.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board was not scheduled upon adjournment.
Mattapoisett Select Board
By Marilou Newell