There is still plenty of pencil sharpening and number crunching to be done by Town Administrator Mike Lorenco and the finance team at Town Hall, but the preliminary FY23 general fund operating budget currently stands at $30,913,841, 3.38 percent over expected FY22. The draft budget was rolled out during the February 22 meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board.
Lorenco said driving the increase were such things as retirement payouts up by 8 percent, health insurance up 8 percent, and utility and fuel costs that keep rising. On the revenue side, Lorenco is forecasting a 20-percent drop-off from FY22. He said that it is possible the state’s contribution will increase by $140,000, but those numbers won’t be solidified for some weeks.
Regarding new growth, Lorenco said that building permits are expected to decrease due to rising material costs, something that directly impacts the building trades. However, a new local meals tax is expected to bring in as much or more than $60,000. He’s projecting a modest increase from local receipts once the books close in July.
The board and Lorenco also discussed village roadway engineering plans by VHB, Inc. that have been underway for some time. The engineering group has been under contract to produce up to 75-percent engineered drawings as required by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation for the long-planned roadway improvements to Main, Water and Beacon streets and Marion Road. Lorenco said that the firm was asking for an additional 142 hours to reach the 75-percent mark. The additional time and a new rate schedule could drive the cost up as much as $40,000, Lorenco said.
Board member Tyler Macallister asked that VHB be asked to justify the increase in hours, given that the original estimates were based on their calculations for how long the project would take to design. Lorenco said he would also look at what monies had already been appropriated by Town Meeting for the project.
In other business, two local business owners met with the Select Board for hearings to discuss changes to their operations.
Coming before the board was Michael Sandofsky to discuss his plans for opening a market in the Ropewalk complex on Route 6. While some work had begun, Sandofsky said that no work is taking place now. There were some issues with permits that he believed he had in place. Local building officials did not agree, instead citing that the work that had taken place did not meet Massachusetts State Building Code.
The board was supportive of Sinofsky’s new business plans, explaining to him that he would need at least one common victualer license but possibly two if the Walrus and Captain DBA is going to be used. These licenses would be necessary for the selling of prepared foods. Sandofsky will also need to apply for a liquor license, as his business model includes the retailing of high-end wines and beer.
The board continued the public hearing until March 22, but Chairman Jordan Collyer asked that construction permits be in order within 48 hours. The board agreed to keep the project moving in a forward direction.
Richard Pasquill, owner of Turks Seafood Restaurant, asked the board to consider allowing the outdoor sitting area that was first constructed to keep his business going during the height of the pandemic when indoor dining was restricted. Pasquill said that he reconfigured the interior of the building and now uses two former indoor dining areas for takeout service and prep space. He noted that, in spite of the challenges faced during COVID-19, a better workflow was created for both his staff and serving the public. The space in question is a 30-foot by 60-foot canopied area with 10 tables. The request was unanimously approved.
The extension of Park Lane, a public way, was discussed with Attorney Patricia McArdle and David Davignon of Schneider, Davignon & Leone Inc., representatives for Scott and Margo Atkinson. At issue is that Park Lane, although a public way, was never completed. The Atkinsons have a two-lot subdivision approved on the other side the railroad easement that bisects the unfinished Park Lane roadway.
The development of the lots has been hung up as engineering and legal issues were resolved. On Tuesday night, it was up to the Select Board to grant permission for a private party to complete a public roadway. The board agreed the 123-foot extension project could move forward pending review and written confirmation by the Fire Department, the Highway Department and a confirming letter from the town’s peer-review consultant.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board is scheduled for Tuesday, March 1, at 6:30pm.
Mattapoisett Select Board
By Marilou Newell