Solar panels, affordable housing for seniors and roadwork all are on the mind of Mattapoisett Town Administrator Michael Gagne as he looks into the year 2012.
“I’m looking at advancing photovoltaic projects to produce revenue to help with the increase in SEMASS fees,” Mr. Gagne said. Also, town buildings are in need of repairs. “The Town Hall needs a lot of work. This is one priority that we’ll have to address,” he said.
Capital improvements for the harbor through Harbormaster office also are the Town Administrator’s radar. “We are looking at a complete electrical service update, and need replacement timber, piling and rehabilitation work,” he said. The estimated cost of such a project is still being investigated, he said.
A project also important to Mr. Gagne is adding to the stock of available affordable housing for seniors in Mattapoisett.
“I hear from quite a few Mattapoisett seniors who can’t get affordable housing, and end up in subsidized housing in New Bedford. We need to find a way to keep them here,” he said. His office is at “ground zero” on the effort, thus at the stage of undertaking a “full analysis” of potential sites before moving forward.
“We’re going to do site evaluations and look at locations’ approximation to services,” he said.
In addition, the Town Administrator plans to work with Highway Surveyor Barry Denham to fix a list of roads in need of repair.
“We have a list of the top ten areas that need roadwork – from paving, sidewalk work, curb resetting – scattered throughout the town,” he said. Currently the town is pursuing grant monies in addition to Chapter 90 funds to “get as much work done as we can,” he said.
Mr. Gagne said although it is not an immediate priority, the town is working with local businesses to hear their thoughts and ideas on Route 6. He said one meeting has been conducted so far, and now the focus is looking how to rehab Route 6 in the future, so if the state is prepared to fix up the road, the town is ready to respond with its ideas.
One initiative that Mr. Gagne said likely will be abandoned is Southeastern Regional Transit Authority’s Seaside Shuttle that transports passengers from Mattapoisett to Fairhaven and Acushnet. The shuttle was launched as a pilot program in the fall of 2010.
“Unfortunately, in these tight times, that will not be funded. It just does not have the ridership. It just doesn’t seem to catch on, unfortunately,” he said.
“I see it going by empty a lot of times. Maybe it’s one of those things that is not going to work in that fashion,” he said.
By Laura Fedak Pedulli