Coming before the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen on March 9 was Lions Club president Ross Kessler to discuss plans for the return of the popular Lions Club Harbor Days and triathlon, annual summertime events sidelined in 2020 due to COVID-19. July 10 through 18 may just find the village streets full of visitors again.
Kessler discussed following state guidelines such as the number of attendees granted entrance to Shipyard Park, the event’s weeklong home, and what locations might be used as entranceways and exits. Selectman John DeCosta asked if the organization had considered waiting until August to hold the fundraiser, granting more time for people to be vaccinated. But Kessler said that, although it was considered, the loss of revenue with lower attendance anticipated for an August event and scheduling issues with entertainers made the July dates their primary goal. Lions Club member Bob Saunders said that he would meet with the Police, Fire, and Board of Health to ensure safety for all concerned.
Selectman Jordan Collyer asked of the town beach area, “The triathlon can be a train wreck of people; how do you maintain distance and numbers?” Kessler replied, “We will cancel if we can’t maintain the number regulated by the state.” Town Administrator Mike Lorenco asked that the Lions meet with him sooner rather than later to make sure a plan is in place for crowd control. Collyer also wanted to set a “go/no-go” benchmark and said, “At the risk of sounding unpopular, should we consider shutting down Water Street” to help control the number and movement of pedestrians? Selectman Paul Silva thought shutting down the two roadways to the wharves should also be considered for that purpose.
The selectmen approved the July event dates pending the Lions Club’s ability to maintain state guidelines. Presently, the state’s guidelines for groups of up to 150 attending outdoor events go into effect on March 22.
Also coming before the selectmen on this night was Council on Aging Director Jacki Coucci with a reopening plan. Coucci said the ultimate goal is to provide some services that were in place until the town’s COVID-19 infection rate reached the red category last fall. Coucci said she would follow all state and local guidelines for programs such as fitness and assured the board that anyone using the facility or the services would be registered, making contact tracing possible. The selectmen approved the plan. An April reopening date is anticipated.
Fire Chief Andrew Murray met with the selectmen to review his department’s FY22 budget.
Murray was asked to justify a $14,448 jump in the on-call-personnel line item. He said the increase was based on the 2-percent cost-of-living and contractual step increases. Murray was also called upon to explain a $43,000 expense for a full-time clerk. He said the position had been part-time for 25 years and that the amount of clerical work had increased over the years. “I take a lot of work home,” he said. Silva voiced his opinion that two 20-hour, part-time clerks could accomplish the same thing with the town not being burdened with another full-time employee eligible for benefits. Murray countered, “It’s better to have the same person for continuity, and the clerk would also be the dispatcher during the day.”
Murray spoke to the need to increase the building and grounds-maintenance expense line from $7,000 to $12,000, noting the new fire station and grounds will incur greater costs or new costs such as an HVAC system, diesel extractor, and garage doors.
On the Fire Department’s Capital Planning list, Murray discussed the need for a fire inspector’s vehicle, $42,000 scheduled for FY23, and $14,500 for repairs to the department’s safe boat scheduled for FY22. DeCosta questioned the need for a new vehicle while Silva questioned repairing a boat he said wasn’t needed. “We don’t need a harbormaster’s boat and a Fire Department boat – just my opinion.”
On the topic of a new fire engine scheduled in FY23 for $575,000, Murray explained the deteriorated condition of the engine and the long lead time needed to have a new engine delivered, upwards of a year. At the Capital Planning Committee’s request, he would be putting together a committee to begin planning and cost estimates for possible inclusion in a Fall Town Meeting warrant. Collyer thought it important to begin that review process now and, “If we are in a good free cash situation, it could be considered in the fall.”
Lorenco noted that there is presently $130,000 in excess capacity with $2,095,000 earmarked for capital expenses.
Earlier in the evening, the selectmen and Board of Health Chairman Carmelo Nicolosi presented retiring Public Health Nurse Amanda Stone with certificates of appreciation from the town and the state in recognition of her 17 years of service. Collyer noted her “unprecedented leadership during COVID-19.”
At 6:30 pm, the meeting began with Sandra Hering presenting the board with an Arbor Day Proclamation for April 30 and a cautionary note regarding the current condition of trees throughout the community. “We have been a Tree City for 13 years, but we are facing obstacles,” Hering began. She said that last year 21 trees had been planted compared to only three this year. She said there was fear that Norway Maples planted throughout the town were falling to disease and that the lion’s share of their small budget had gone to tree removal. Silva asked Lorenco to keep this in mind while drafting the FY22 budget with the possibility of funding more plantings from free cash.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen is scheduled for March 23, at 6:30 pm.
Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen
By Marilou Newell