The June 14 meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board was truly inspirational, as young people demonstrated their interest, understanding, and ideas on a variety of timely topics that adults are struggling to handle.
First, however, was the board’s heartfelt acknowledgement of Paige Mailloux, this year’s winner of the Tree Committee’s poster contest. The fifth grader stood proudly before the board to have her picture taken and to receive a certificate for her third-place standing in the statewide Arbor Day Poster Contest. The poster theme was Be A Cool Community, Plant Trees! This theme tied in nicely with a theme in another format.
Old Rochester Regional students, as a school project, selected timely themes and conducted research and came up with ideas on how to manage and improve environmental issues, animal rights, infrastructure needs and other issues not only facing Mattapoisett but facing the world.
The school project, titled Civic Action Programs, asked the students to select a theme and then expound upon it in a formalized presentation for the Select Board.
Madison Dos Santos selected, “Global Warming, An Idea about Planting Trees in our Community.” Grace Custadio and Giada Gandolfi’s project was on the theme of “Littering Prevention.” Amanda, Emma and Delilah (whose last names were not made available to the board) developed a GoFundMe page for donations to animal shelters in the tri-town area with a goal of raising $5,000. Fixing roads and sidewalks was the topic worked on by Kent Spooner and Linden White. Taking on pollution were Nolan Blanchette and Blake Moreau. Bennett Goodwin selected water quality. And last, but far from least, was “Bad Sidewalks” by Andrew Oliveira.
Select Board members spent time reviewing the submitted presentations and expressed their pleasure with the students’ work. It was determined that each student would receive a response from the board. Member Jodi Bauer said she would facilitate networking the students with the relevant town departments for further exploration of their theme.
The board met with Andrew Nilson of Childs Engineering for a brief overview of the firm’s report on the current state of Long Wharf and options for repairs.
Nilson said that a site visit was conducted in March, at which time it was noted that voids in the foundation and below-water structures required they list the wharf in “poor” condition.
To summarize the project report, it stated in part, “…it was constructed in its current form in 1992 following a portion being damaged by Hurricane Bob. The current form … includes a dry stacked rock seawall supporting the fill that comprises the wharf interior. It is assumed that behind the masonry seawall the wharf is constructed of a combination of rock, soil, and concrete fill. With an asphalt deck.”
The report stated that storms could impact the wharf to the point of making it completely unstable. “The structure as a whole remains stable…but lacked resiliency and is susceptible to overstressing or breakage during a storm event,” the report stated.
Nilson noted that anticipated sea-level rise has to be one of the primary considerations when planning wharf repairs and improvements. Childs recommended “precast concrete with steel reinforcing modular block wall to encapsulate the existing wharf. The existing wharf behind the new concrete block wall will need to be excavated and backfilled to eliminate voids, and the utilities replaced.” That option the Marine Advisory Board, had been told in May, comes with price tag of $4,700,000.
But board member Jordan Collyer said there were concerns over removing historic stone features and asked Nilson to try and come up with a cost estimate that would allow the stones to be removed temporarily while the interior is repaired and then reestablished to their original locations. Collyer was referring to rose granite that had been quarried and used for wharf construction possibly in the mid-1800s.
Nilson reiterated what the report stated that the current condition of the wharf could remain stable for as long as the next 10 years but that any large weather event could cause damage to the deteriorating structure.
In terms of long-term use of the wharf, Collyer said he couldn’t see any change in how the wharf in currently used for decades to come. He said industry simply couldn’t be supported and that recreational use was the primary function of the wharf.
The board voted to establish seven boat-trailer parking spots at the Barstow Wharf parking next to the town beach as compensation for the loss of trailer parking at Railroad and Depot Streets due to the bike path contractor’s need to store materials and equipment at that location.
Seasonal employees were appointed by the board to work as Deputy Harbormasters and Shellfish Constables. Those appointed are Luke Mello, Samuel Horsfall and Sydney Haskell.
The board also met with members of the Mattapoisett Historical Commission Alex Murphy and Robert Spooner. The commissioners discussed designs for two new commemorative brick locations, possibly two at Ned’s Point. Information is available on the town’s website, Mattapoisett.net.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board was not scheduled.
Mattapoisett Select Board
By Marilou Newell