On April 22, the Mattapoisett Select Board met with the Finance Committee to review and approve the Spring Town Meeting scheduled for May 22. But the Board ended up waiting for the arrival of several members of the committee sliding forward their meeting with Jenny Martin, candidate for the open position of Mattapoisett Library Director.
Martin shared her background that included project management, database development, grant-writing, donor outreach and staff development. She also shared coming from a small town where the library was a favored place, “…it was my home.”
Martin said that her family would be moving to the New England area through an upcoming marriage and so it made sense to move closer to their ultimate location. She said that the Mattapoisett Library is a treasure for the community and commented on the building’s physical appearance. Regarding programming Martin said that if you lined up what Mattapoisett offered against other communities Mattapoisett was equal.
Martin responded to questions about what she might do in her first few weeks if she became director. She said it was important to review the collections and build on what is working while stating the library could “dream bigger.” Martin said regarding how best to engage teenagers it was important to, “meet them where they are,” suggesting that if they are interested in podcasting a program for building podcasts might prove beneficial.
But Martin emphasized the importance of taking time to observe the library operations and not change things for the sake of changing.
Of the three candidates that originally were vying for consideration as the next director, Martin was the favorite of the Library Trustees. Mike Rosa, the trustees, said Martin’s extensive experience, which includes having been an educator, impressed them.
The board then moved on to the warrant. The May 2024 Spring Town Meeting will have 34 Articles. They are:
Article 1: Elected Officers Compensation; Moderator $303, Select Board Chairman $6,186, (each) Select Board Members $5,602, (each) Assessors $5,602, Town Clerk $79,825, Board of Health (each) $724, Highway Surveyor $92,185, Mattapoisett School Committee (each) $724, Tree Warden $10,978, and Herring Inspector $1,037; Article 2: General Operating Budget; Article 3: Appropriation for OPEB Liabilities; Article 4: Departmental Revolving Fund Authorization, Article 5 Amendment to Roadway Design and Construction Revolving Fund.
Article 6: Amendment to Conservation Commission Revolving Fund; Article 7: Memorial Brick Revolving Fund; Article 8: Police Department Vehicle Revolving Fund; Article 9: EV Charing Stations Revolving Fund; Article 10: Dissolve Opioid Settlement Stabilization Fund.
Article 11: Opioid Settlement Special Revenue Fund; Article 12: Water Reserve Account; Article 13: Sewer Reserve Account; Article 14: Cyclical Annual Property Revaluation and Town Mapping.
Article 16: Personnel Schedules; Article 17: Reserve Allocation Collective Bargaining Agreements; Article 18: Acceptance of Report of Capital Planning Committee; Article 19: Capital Plan Funding; Article 20: Authorization lease purchase of Medium Dity Truck (Highway Department).
Article 21: Various Project Funding to fund – Math Curriculum $70,000, Grant Matching Funds $30,000, Replacement of loader bucket (Highway Department)Town Wide ADA Improvements, MS Permit Reporting and Testing $20,000; Article 22: Renovation of Highway Department Building $4,000,000; Article 23: Reconstruction of Oakland Street $1,300,000; Articles 24-29: Allocation of Revenues Community Preservation Act, for Museum Carriage house ADA Improvements $45,000, Hammond Cemetery Restoration $10,000, Historical Commission Survey $30,000, American Legion Post 280 S10,544, Old Hammantown School; Community Garden $ $17,500.
Article 30: CPA Funding Transfer for Affordable Housing $250,000; Article 31: Acceptance if Statutes Relating to Veterans; Article 32: Amendment to Bylaws for Parking of Trailers on Public Ways; Article 33: Permanent Easements Pearl Street; Article 34: Increase Mattapoisett Select Board from three to five members.
Mattapoisett Select Board
By Marilou Newell