Once again, the Mattapoisett Select Board faced the public to discuss the creation of a Roadway Committee only to find the membership at an impasse.
The Roadway Committee creation, spearheaded by the Tree Committee to ensure that the construction would have limited impact on mature trees primarily lining Water Street, was approved at the Annual Town Meeting on May 13.
But the issue stalling the Select Board is the number of committee members that should be selected. While member Tyler Macallister is completely against having a committee, Jodi Bauer wants three committee members and Jordan Collyer wants five.
Bauer noted that the town has committees of only three people such as the Board of Health. Collyer felt that number too few in the event of illness or other reasons why a member could not attend meetings.
“At Town Meeting, we discussed a five-member committee,” Collyer said. He went on to say that he stands behind the decision made at Town Meeting to create the committee, adding that five members would make for spirited discussions. Bauer believed that five members would lead to a rehashing of topics and that could result in project delays.
Exactly what the committee would be expected to accomplish was also discussed. Some members of the public thought it would be a sounding board for public opinion, which could then be funneled to the board. Collyer said he was looking for a committee with people with expertise in roadway construction or related matters.
In the meantime, Collyer said the project is working through the Department of Transportation process.
Tree Committee Chairman Sandra Hering stated in response to the importance of giving residents safe sidewalks, “I care about safety.” She said that Town Meeting’s decision to have a committee formed was “important” and that “it hurts me that you are at an impasse.” Hering said, if the board doesn’t resolve the impasse, the members’ legacy will be that they killed the committee. She hoped that the three-person board would reach a compromise.
Without a resolution to the impasse, no committee can be formed, Town Administrator Mike Lorenco stated.
In other business, the Select Board accepted the resignation of Tom Kelly from the Finance Committee, Alan Apperson from the Capital Planning Committee and Eric Beauregard from the Marine Advisory Board.
Mike Huguenin, president of the Mattapoisett Land Trust, announced the release of videos showcasing MLT properties as part of the organization’s 50 anniversary celebrations. They can be viewed on the MLT’s social-media platforms and website, he said.
A one-day wine and malt liquor license was approved for the Fire Department’s Cook-off event.
It was announced that the town has received a grant just shy of $30,000 for cybersecurity training.
The next meeting date of the Mattapoisett Select Board was not announced.
Mattapoisett Select Board
By Marilou Newell