On February 25, the Mattapoisett Select Board met with Highway Surveyor Garrett Bauer to discuss the current status of major renovations and improvement to the Highway Department headquarters located on Mendel Road. Bauer said it has been more than 50 years since any updates had been made and that Phase 1 work is complete. He said a new sprinkler system has passed inspection in the last few days.
There was also substantial discussion regarding how best to fund the remaining two phases of the $2,000,000 renovation. At the conclusion of that discussion which included Town Administrator Mike Lorenco stating that the town had a healthy free cash number and that old debt will roll off the books soon, Select Board member Jordan Collyer said it is likely the funding will come from a combination of free cash and debt exclusion.
When asked how he would wish to proceed with construction, Bauer stated that moving ahead with both Phase 2 and 3 would be his preference. The remaining phases consist of new office spaces, bathrooms, breakroom, and a four-bay garage.
The need for the development of engineered drawings for cost estimates was placed at the top of Bauer’s to-do list so the board could review that number as soon as possible.
The board also met with Andrew Nilson of Childs Engineering regarding the Long Wharf construction project. It was determined that a working session between the Marine Advisory Board, Childs, and the Select Board might prove beneficial.
Public comments have been opened almost since the beginning of the project more than a year ago, but in addressing how best to tie down action items when more comments seem to folly back and forth without conclusion, MAB Chairman Carlos DaSouza suggested a working meeting. That option was taken under consideration by the Select Board. In the meantime, testing of existing granite stones proposed for resurfacing of the wharf was confirmed.
Lorenco noted that Annual Town Meeting will be held on May 12 and that the Finance Committee is nearing the end of its review processes associated with all town budgets including capital plans.
The board now plans to work throughout the month of March, meeting with all town departments to flesh out any fiscal adjustments needed for a balanced budgets before presenting the budgets at Town Meeting. The Town Meeting warrant will close on April 22.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board was not scheduled upon adjournment.
Mattapoisett Select Board
By Marilou Newell