The much anticipated new Mattapoisett bike path Phase 1b with a bridge spanning from Reservation Road to Goodspeed Island will not open in time for the warmer seasons, it was announced at the February 9 meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen.
Town Administrator Mike Lorenco told the board that during a recent discussion with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, he was informed that the opening date of the new bike path section was pushed back until November 2021. He said that, while the contractor D.W. White will do everything it can to carve off weeks from the new opening date, as things presently stand, there are no guarantees. Lorenco said the Massachusetts Department of Transportation cited weather delays, material imperfections, and the problems associated with the pandemic as reasons for the delay. “White will push hard to get the project done,” Lorenco said, adding, “barring other delays.”
Selectman Jordan Collyer voiced concern that the parking area on Depot Street currently being used by the contractor to store equipment and materials is an area the town needs during the summer season for parking, especially for boaters who depend on the trailer spaces in the lot. More than half of the municipal parking area is currently fenced off. “They are going to have to truncate their usage; we need to recapture as much parking as possible,” Collyer stated.
Selectman Paul Silva asked Lorenco if the contractor could focus on completing at least one stretch, such as from Reservation Road to Mattapoisett Neck Road, that could then be opened in advance of the full project’s completion. Lorenco said he’d look into that with MassDOT.
Collyer commented, “I don’t want DOT to come back saying they can’t bifurcate the contract, but you know that’s what they’ll probably do.”
Returning to update the selectmen were members of VHB, the consulting firm previously admonished during the January 26 selectmen’s meeting for its poor communications regarding the 25 percent engineering needed by the town to file for grants associated with roadway improvements on Main, Water, and Beacon Streets.
At the earlier meeting, Jamie Pisano said, “We are midway through 25 percent.” That hadn’t set well, especially with the selectmen. Collyer told Pisano, “We thought we were almost there.” He said that VHB had not informed the board of slowing down the project, adding, “I wasn’t in favor of you, to begin with.” Collyer reminded Pisano that he had aired concerns about VHB’s ability to deliver on time based on problems experienced during Phase 1 of the bike path.
Pisano said that when the design got to 10 percent, it came to light that the project was pushed off from the 2024 Transportation Improvement Program to 2025. Silva said, “But you didn’t tell anybody.”
Now VHB was back with updated timing. “We are completely committed to the town,” Pisano began. He said that VHB now plans to have all necessary documents prepared no later than the end of March. He also said that bi-weekly reports would be forwarded to keep the town informed of the company’s progress.
Also meeting with the selectmen was Library Director Jennifer Jones to review the department’s FY22 budget proposal. After presenting figures that were lean except for contractual agreements with employees, she gave an overview of the services the library has been able to maintain during the lockdown. Jones’ graphic showed that there are 5,253 current cardholders and that 25,145 items had been checked out of the library thus far in FY21. Her FY22 budget, as presented, is at $549,248, just over 3 percent from FY21. Silva asked her to trim about $2,000 from the bottom line to get closer to 2 percent.
After discussing the need to include roof repairs in the operating budget under ongoing maintenance as opposed to a Capital Planning expense, Jones was lauded by the selectmen for her professionalism and overall high performance during the pandemic. Collyer and Selectman John DeCosta said that residents had “nothing but good things to say” about her work at the library.
The pandemic was discussed, as Lorenco told the board that the lottery system employed by the town was working well and that vaccines had been administered to the first 100 residents selected. He cautioned that Public Health Nurse Emily Field had not received notification of when the next 100 doses would be shipped but that applications can continue to be dropped off at the police station.
On February 3, the selectmen announced the lottery process. Those 75 years of age or older and those working as healthcare professionals in the community qualified for the lottery system. The first step is to complete an application available at Mattapoisett.net. Residents may also pick up a registration form at the library or Town Hall. While those buildings are closed to the public, applications will be available at the door.
After completing a hardcopy application, residents and healthcare workers are instructed to place it in an envelope marked “Emily Field” and drop it off in the box located at the Police Station lobby. Every Wednesday at 2:00 pm, 100 applications will be randomly drawn, and Field will contact the lucky winners to set up their appointments. The applications not selected will remain in the box for subsequent Wednesday drawings. All selected applicants will be automatically registered for the second vaccine.
Residents may also seek assistance with the process by calling the library, Council on Aging, or the Board of Selectmen’s Office. Full details are available on the town’s website, Mattapoisett.net.
Lorenco encouraged residents to register with the state for appointments at one of the mass vaccination sites. He said that transportation would be provided through the COA for residents unable to drive themselves.
Silva asked if the town should be calling senior citizens age 75 and older to make sure they get a vaccine if they want one. “We need to get that group taken care of,” he said. Lorenco said that Field knew the names of all those who are homebound while stating, “I implore the public to go to the state website (mass.gov).” Lorenco also said that a hotline was being set up to help residents get the answers they need to questions regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.
Rounding out his pandemic comments, Lorenco said that the governor had increased the number of customers who could be in a restaurant to 40 percent of capacity while at the same time keeping a restriction on the number of people permitted in a private gathering to 10 inside a building and 25 outside.
Lorenco also announced that a job opening for a new Tri-Town veterans’ agent had opened. He said any veteran in the Tri-Town area is eligible to apply for the 16-hour-per-week position that pays $20 per hour.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen is scheduled for Tuesday, February 23, at 6:30 pm.
Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen
By Marilou Newell