It finally happened on January 26; the demolition of the iconic Bowlmor Lanes located in the heart of Mattapoisett. The sound of cracking, snapping, and crashing could be heard throughout the village as the soundwaves created by dismantling cranes reverberated off Center School. The end of an era has arrived.
The members of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen all have deep roots in the community, and so it seemed fitting that they share their thoughts not only on what the former recreational hot spot meant to them as youngsters growing up in town but also the impact on vacant lots in a municipality seeking to expand business opportunities.
Jordan Collyer grew up in Mattapoisett and spent plenty of time as a youth bowling inside the prominent green structure. But today, he said, “I’m upset! I’m upset that no one was able to restore that iconic building. Everyone knew it as a landmark in town. There were birthday parties, class events— it was a place to get together with your friends. It will be sorely missed.” After pausing for a moment to collect his thoughts, Collyer said, “I’m upset it declined, but I’m also upset my kids won’t be able to have the same kind of memories I do.”
Paul Silva spent the summers of his youth on Mattapoisett Neck. “I didn’t have a car, so I spent all my time on the water,” he said. But Silva said his son grew up in Mattapoisett and that “he was always there,” at the Bowlmor. But Silva also expressed concern about the impact of such a large empty space in the middle of the community. “It’s always difficult to see a business leave the Route 6 belt.… I hope it doesn’t turn into a parking lot.” He said he is hopeful a business will come into the space, as was the case when the A&P closed at the site that is now a 7-Eleven store. “I hope it becomes a flourishing business.”
John DeCosta’s memories of the bowling alley are much more personal. “That’s where my father and mother met!” he said, sharing the tender family story of six friends— three ladies and three gentlemen— who eventually would pair off into three couples who have remained lifelong friends. DeCosta’s parents were introduced in 1946; Gerry Francis would become Mrs. John DeCosta, her sister Edith would find love with DeCosta’s friend Warren Davis, and the third lady, now only remembered as Aunt Alice, would marry DeCosta’s other pal, Ken Wood.
Selectman DeCosta said that he spent loads of time at the bowling alley, especially during school vacations and later when he had his own children, as they celebrated many birthdays there. Later on, when he needed to earn extra income to help support his growing family, DeCosta worked at the bowling alley. “It’s a very sad day for me,” DeCosta quietly shared. He said that it was like losing a family member.
The current owners, Mike and Susan Penta, had tried to find a way to renovate the building and kickstart the business, but by February 2017, Bowlmor was condemned due to structural problems. The building opened its doors in 1945.
But life goes on, and so do the running of the town’s business. After sharing their thoughts about the removal of the bowling alley earlier in the day, it was back to business as they focused on the agenda at hand at the evening meeting.
A hot button was pushed when engineering firm VHB’s Jamie Pisano told the selectmen that less than 25 percent of the needed design work on Main, Water, and Beacon Streets had been completed to date. Pisano said, “We are midway through 25 percent,” and given that the project had been pushed out to the 2025 Massachusetts Department of Transportation Improvement Project, scheduling had been slowed down to save the town money. Pisano said that since the town’s project had been pushed to 2025, he was concerned that if 25 percent was completed now, the DOT might change policies that would send them back to the drawing board. “I didn’t want to go back to the town and ask for more money,” he said. “My intent was to have the best interest of the town; we were advancing the project through the process.”
But that set off a frustrated reaction from Collyer, who stated, “I don’t like that answer.” Asked by Collyer, Town Administrator Mike Lorenco said that to date, the town had spent roughly $100,000. Lorenco confirmed that the overall contract with VHB was around $500,000.
Collyer told Pisano, “We thought we were almost there.” He said that VHB had not informed the board of slowing down the project, adding, “I wasn’t in favor of you, to begin with.” Collyer reminded Pisano that he had aired concerns about VHB’s ability to deliver on time based on problems experienced during Phase 1 of the bike path.
Pisano said that when the design got to 10 percent, it came to light that the project was pushed off from 2024 to 2025. Silva said, “But you didn’t tell anybody.”
Pisano repeatedly apologized and promised to give the board regular updates while also restarting the design to achieve 25 percent by April so that the town could, with the aid of legislators, attempt to get back on the 2024 TIP.
Collyer said, “Your communications need to be crystal clear.” He said that all parties needed to be diligent in getting the 25 percent completed and that status reports were expected one week before meetings with VHB moving forward.
The project proposes to improve sidewalks, parking, and road surfaces along Main, Water, and Beacon Streets, as well as the reconfiguration of at least one major intersection at Marion Road and Route 6.
Kathleen Costello, administrator of assessing, and Attorney Matthew Thomas met with the selectmen with the news that a Home Rule Petition had been granted to the town. Costello said that Mattapoisett was the only town in the Commonwealth with the authority to impose Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) programs on solar developers. She said that a law written in 1975 geared towards providing tax relief to homeowners opting to install residential solar arrays had also been used by some commercial producers.
Costello said that the companies entering Mattapoisett with solar projects had thus far been amenable to engaging in PILOT programs, but that could change at any time. Costello said that Mattapoisett was a prime location for solar arrays and that this legislation will continue to allow the town and its residents to benefit financially.
Thomas said, “This ensures that the way Mattapoisett has been doing things can continue.… It codifies what Mattapoisett has done in the past.”
In his report to the board, Lorenco touched on the FY22 budget process that he has been working on with the Capital Planning Committee. He said that he has been meeting with department heads and that meetings with the Finance Committee were scheduled, but that “2022 will be a difficult year.… We might have to do some trimming.” He made those comments, he said, in light of healthcare costs and other expenses.
Lorenco also mentioned that FEMA mapping changes would need to go before Town Meeting in the spring and pointed out that COVID-19 guidelines include lifting some restrictions. However, he said of the latter topic that complaints had been received about businesses not complying with capacity rules. “We are watching capacity limits, but hope the businesses do it, so we don’t have to be the bad guys,” he said.
Lorenco’s last comments of the meeting were that Emergency Management plans were ready for review. The board elected to send those directly to the stakeholders for their review before coming before them for comment and approval.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen is scheduled for Tuesday, February 9, at 6:30 pm.
Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen
By Marilou Newell