On January 10, the Mattapoisett Select Board along with Dave and Ned Kaiser of the Mattapoisett Boat Yard and the public, heard a presentation given by Kevin Kuros of the Massachusetts Office of Business Development. The MBY in cooperation with the town is seeking to learn more about state level programs that recognize the value businesses bring not only to local communities but to the Commonwealth. That value may be recognized in the form of tax relief incentives.
Kuros explained in detail how the programs work and what towns and businesses can expect from the state. The essence of what is available comes down to giving businesses the opportunity to pay reduced or even no real or personal property taxes over a period of time and then gradually ratchet up to the assessed value of the property including improvement.
Kuros’ presentation stated TIFs (tax increment financing) have a five year minimum to 20 year maximum, businesses pay full tax on the base value, exemptions are for property taxation on all or part of the increased value of the improved commercial property, the exemption on incremental real and personal property ranges from 5 to 100 percent.
The program has two tracks, one for local incentives that includes a two-way partnership between the town and the business, real estate relief including TIF and Special Tax Assessment which is negotiated between the town and the business, all culminating in local economic development value.
Kaiser said he needed to understand the tax impact of his estimated $1,200,000 investment, in what he called phase-one construction to rebuild his business in the wake of a devastating fire that leveled the boatyard business.
Kuros said the first step was for MBY to send the Select Board a letter of intent which Kuros’ office will be copied on. A fully fleshed out financial plan must then be drawn up and presented to the town at a Town Meeting. He said only through acceptance at Town Meeting could the program go forward.
Kaiser will meet with Town Administrator Mike Lorenco to begin next steps.
Also coming before the board on this night was Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School Superintendent Aaron Polansky with an updated building plan. Polansky said that in order to provide the level of programming needed by students’ improvements to the overall school structure were imperative. He said the first step in bringing the 1970s structure up to today’s standards was the drafting of a feasibility study.
OCRVTHS, Polansky said, ranks number 10 in co-op placement of students, a statistic he is very proud of, but with insufficient water systems and other critical building components, the school can’t keep step with requests for placements. He said member communities will be asked to fund the $1,000,000 needed for the feasibility study. The school has been able to set aside $500,000 of the million needed he stated.
Lorenco sits on the school’s building committee so he will keep the board apprised of the school’s planning which has been ongoing for the last few years but now needs to go to the next level.
In other business, Eversource team members met with the board to gain their approval for a winter construction schedule for the replacement of aging steel gas lines to PVC. A February start date is planned for Ship Street, Shipyard Lane, Foster Street, Freeman Street, Prospect Road, Parker and Shaw Streets and Randall Road and Hillside Avenue. The board approved the schedule.
There was some discussion about the planned village streets project. All agreed that until the engineering plans are nearer to completion, a schedule for utilities could not be drafted. Lorenco said that project is expected to receive TIP funding (Massachusetts Transportation Improvement Program) in 2026.
The retired Mattapoisett Fire Station has sold to Michael Sudofsky of SKY Development LLC. The board voted to approve the sale. Plans for the structure tentatively include a bakery and grocery store, the board shared.
Aquaculture licenses were granted to Blue Stream LLC, Mike Ward and Robert Field.
A letter drafted to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection requesting relief for planned Title 5 changes was accepted as written by Lorenco. He said Mattapoisett, along with many other coastal communities were contacting the agency for relief from a July implementation date. The town plans to request a town-wide permit which will give the town five years to gain water quality standards as outlined in the new regulations.
The board approved the creation of a Holy Ghost Reuse Committee that will include Nathan Ketchel from the Planning Board, Greta Fox from the Recreation Department, Mike Rosa from Capital Planning, Denise Conton from the Friends of the Mattapoisett Council on Aging and Freemin Bauer who advocates for the creation of a dog park.
Lorenco reported that FY24 budget processes have begun. He also noted that the town presently has approximately $1,400,000 in available free cash, not including monies that have been earmarked for various stability funds.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board is scheduled for January 24, at 6:30 pm.
Mattapoisett Select Board
By Marilou Newell