The Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen dispensed with a light agenda with little fanfare on Tuesday night, November 13.
A representative from Eversource, Donna Rosa, presented to the board proposals for the relocation of three utility poles and the placement of four new utility poles. The relocation of three poles was in relation to the culvert replacement on Acushnet Road just south of Hereford Road. The fourth relocation was to remedy a pole that was in the middle of a landowner’s driveway at 21 Beacon Street.
The board held a public hearing on the proposal for four brand new poles and anchors, also in conjunction with the repair of the culvert on Acushnet Road. The poles will be located on the edge of the road, again south of Hereford Road. A stub pole will be located near 164 Acushnet Road, and another will be located between 165 and 169 Acushnet Road.
Abutters to the proposed poles were present and took the opportunity to review the plans and had no objection to the pole placements. One gentleman proclaimed, “If they start drilling in the wrong place, I’ll get after them!”
The board voted unanimously in support of all the relocated and new poles.
Town Administrator Mike Gagne outlined his plan to begin discussions among the Finance Committee, the Capital Improvement Committee, the Marine Advisory Board, the Waterways Department, and the Board of Selectmen in preparation for the Annual Town Meeting in the spring.
“I put this [on the agenda] to clarify what we are doing with the waterfront,” said Gagne.
He suggested that the plan for the repairs to Long Wharf, including improvements to timbers and pilings, would be part of an overall discussion of the services provided by the Waterways Department and an evaluation of its staffing and skill sets required by the staff, as well as an assessment of the infrastructure and other priorities.
Developing a plan for the work on Long Wharf, including funding, would also require input from the Historical Commission.
Gagne encouraged the town departments to work on a strong capital plan for the equipment needed by the Waterways Department. All the departments liked the idea of “drilling down on this,” Gagne said.
Gagne reminded the board that the Mattapoisett Boatyard would no longer be providing pump out services. The town has opted to provide these services themselves, with assistance from a $56,000 grant from the state Clean Vessel Act to offset the cost of a pump out boat.
The 23-foot long boat the town intends to purchase, which has the capacity for 450 gallons of boat waste, is necessary to navigate the waters in and around Mattapoisett Harbor. The funding for the full $95,000 cost of the boat must be in place to ensure the expected delivery date of April 2019.
When asked by town resident Wayne Walega if the town had considered buying the boat previously used by the Mattapoisett Boatyard, Gagne responded that Harbormaster Jill Simmons had nixed the idea. Simmons cited the instability of the vessel when at full waste capacity, Gagne said, and newer boat designs apparently have a lower center of gravity when under full load, which makes them safer in choppy water.
Board of Selectmen Chairman Jordan Collyer added that, for every dollar the town put into the operation of the pump out program, it would be reimbursed $0.75.
In other matters, the board reminded residents that an email was sent November 7 for mooring renewals. The renewal must be returned within 60 days, a deadline of January 7. Any resident who has a question or did not receive an email and believes they should have, should call Town Hall.
Gagne reported that Barry Denham had been researching possible weight exclusion for the River Road bridge. The two criteria the state uses to consider an exclusion are structural integrity and geometry of approach to the bridge. The bridge has been inspected by the Massachusetts Highway Division and is in good structural condition. Gagne says Denham has said all along that the issue is with the angle of approach for 2.5 ton or greater size trucks. Denham will petition Mass Highway for weight exclusion on geometry grounds.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen is scheduled for December 4 at 6:30 pm at the Town Hall.
Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen
By Sarah French Storer