“This is a momentous day for Mattapoisett,” stated Select Board Chairman Tyler Macallister on April 27. A long saga filled with real drama in the form of a pandemic and defective materials had sidelined the opening of the Shining Tide section of the Mattapoisett Bike Path, from Reservation Road to Goodspeed Island Road.
Now, after many months of working with MassDOT and Representative William Straus, the Memorandum of Understanding which protects the town for up to 20 years was signed. By signing the document, the town agreed to take ownership of the structures, and the state promised to bear any costs from material failure.
On April 28, the gates were unlocked. A formal opening is planned for May.
Select Board member Jordan Collyer said he was pleased with the final language in the MOU and quipped that, “We are actually ahead of schedule.” A revised opening date of June 2023 had been set after earlier dates had to be pushed out.
There remain other issues to be resolved, namely parking.
Parking at the end of Reservation Road is strictly for golf-club members only. Town parking permits are not valid at this private beach area, Collyer stated. The private golf club has put up signs indicating the area is private. Parking at the Railroad Avenue parking lot has elongated slots for the exclusive use of boaters with trailers, but there are several lined spots for automobiles. There is no parking permitted at the end of Goodspeed Island Road. There is permit parking at the Landing off Mattapoisett Neck Road and three spots at the entrance of Brandt Beach on Brandt Island Road.
Regarding shell fishing at Reservation Beach, Collyer said that between October 15 and April 30, the parking area may be used by those with shellfish permits, a long-held courtesy that the golf club has extended town residents.
Boat-trailer parking was also discussed as a possible option at the town beach lot on Water Street. Select Board member Jodi Bauer said she wouldn’t want more than five slots available at that location for boaters.
In other business, the matter of hiring a new harbormaster was discussed. It was noted that municipalities are looking at new experience requirements for harbormasters, primarily one that would include state-authorized, police academy training. In a follow-up, Collyer said that it is difficult to find someone who has put in the time training, but that some aspects of the job are more law-enforcement related, making a harbormaster’s position a nuanced one.
Town Administrator Mike Lorenco said that the open position will be posted in the coming days. Collyer commented, “We are on borrowed time,” with the boating season about to begin. In the meantime, Lorenco, in cooperation with Sergeant Scott LeBlanc, is working on various harborside duties.
Lorenco reported that the new road grader for the Highway Department has arrived as has the new fire truck.
The Spring Town Meeting warrant is posted to the town’s website, and the League of Women Voters will hold a Candidates’ Night at Old Hammondtown School on Wednesday, May 3, at 6:30 pm.
Later the same evening the Mattapoisett Marine Advisory Board met. Chairman Carlos DeSousa also commented on the open harbormaster position. He said the Select Board was putting together the job description. He also suggested that the board invite LeBlanc to the next board meeting.
Board members expressed concern over not having an authoritative presence at the wharves, and guest John Cornish said he was worried for his boat docked at the pier. DaSousa said he would ask Lorenco what is planned.
DeSousa noted that work is pending on shellfish and that work is also pending on the dredging at Long Wharf. That project will now be scheduled for the fall or winter. Completed projects include the servicing of boats and installation of dinghy docks. Other docks need repairing.
It was suggested that possibly students from a vocational-technical school might be able to help the town. DeSousa plans to explore the idea. He also said that bathrooms are open and being cleaned, the pump-out boat will be launched in the coming week and that freshwater and electrical service has been turned on.
A Harbor Management Plan that was promoted by the previous Harbormaster Jamie McIntosh will not be moving forward at this time, it was noted. Regarding McIntosh, the board is planning to thank him for his service with a letter of appreciation. “We’ll acknowledge his service to the community,” DaSousa said. The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Marine Advisory Board is scheduled for Thursday, May 25, at 7:00 pm. The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board was not scheduled upon adjournment