During the December 5 meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board, former member of the town’s long-defunct Open Space and Recreation Committee Bonne DeSousa raised the need for a committee to develop plans for the use of the former Holy Ghost grounds off Park Street.
DeSousa noted that during the Fall Special Town Meeting, questions were raised when Article 8 came up. The article asked the voters to approve $150,000 for restrooms at the structure situated on the town-owned property.
Town Administrator Mike Lorenco conferred with Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School, which ultimately agreed to do the carpentry work. He said at the time that if Mattapoisett could not commit to a schedule, the students would be assigned to another project, possibly terminating Mattapoisett’s opportunity for a cost-effective way to get the work done.
Finance Committee member Colleen Trahan lodged a “nay” for Article 8 when the warrant was being discussed during the committee’s meeting leading up to Town Meeting. Her reasoning was straightforward, a plan for the property was needed before money should be spent on improvements. The majority of voters at Town Meeting thought otherwise. Article 8 passed 41 yes to 18 no.
On Monday, DeSousa urged the Planning Board’s involvement in possibly developing a committee that would report to Town Meeting in the spring. She also pointed out that the town has not had an Open Space and Recreation Committee since 2016. In the absence of such an entity, DeSousa said the town cannot develop plans, and in the absence of a committee and a fully vetted plan, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation grants cannot be sought.
Planning Board member John Mathieu said the Select Board is the body that should convene a committee, and in his opinion, “The town shouldn’t own property except for recreation.”
The Select Board’s December 6 agenda lists discussion of the Holy Ghost grounds.
In other business, the board approved the Form A request submitted by Next Grid Solar for the creation of three lots on Bowman Road. Before ending their discussion on the application, member Karen Field pointed out that the solar array on Bowman Road owned by Next Grid was “not tidy.” Rich Riccio of Field Engineering, representing Next Grid, said, “I don’t have anything at all to do with that project, but I’ll pass along the information to the owners.”
David Andrews of the Bay Club came forward to share that letters from the Mattapoisett Highway Department and the Mattapoisett Water and Sewer Department indicate no issues with roadways now ready for paving. There was some discussion as to whether it was prudent to pave roads with winter bearing down. Andrew will return to the board on December 19 to confirm the Bay Club’s decision to either finish paving now or ask for an extension and pave in the spring.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board is scheduled for Monday, December 19, at 7:00 pm.
Mattapoisett Planning Board
By Marilou Newell