It’s been a mighty long time since a new wooden boat was launched from the historic wharves located in Mattapoisett’s harbor, but the long wait is over. On Friday, June 16, the Acorn to Arabella boat will arrive in Mattapoisett. Food trucks are planned to set up around 3:00 pm.
Saturday will find the crew and associated volunteers busy with the 10:00 am launch time and ceremonial speeches before the christening. If all goes to plan, the boat will be launched by 10:30 am. At 11:30 am, live music will entertain the public, but tours of the vessel will be for major donors and patrons only on Saturday. Food trucks will be open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Sunday will find the food trucks open by 10:00 am, and public tours will begin with music at 11:30 am. Tours will end at 4:00 pm. There will be a fee to board the ship.
The board also discussed a number of major projects still in the cue.
Town Administrator Mike Lorenco updated a fairly long list that included a meeting planned for June 27 with PARE, the engineering firm working on Phase 2a of the Mattapoisett multiuse pathway aka, the bike path. Lorenco also said that test borings will begin on Long Wharf on July 22, a procedure to determine the current condition of the wharf’s underpinnings.
Lorenco said that the 25% engineered drawings for Main Street repairs is now in the hands of MassDOT for comment. He said comments most likely won’t be received for several months. Other roadway-related projects noted included the reconstruction of Pearl Street, along with another meeting in the coming months with MassDOT; this time the topic will be the Route 6 corridor and ideas for improvements.
Regarding grants, Lorenco said that those will be sought for building reconstruction at the Holy Ghost Grounds in the range of $500,000 and that parking pay stations may also be founded with grant monies in the future.
An ATV vehicle considered by both the Fire and Police departments as worthy life-safety equipment is another item the town is seeking a grant to fund. Filings have been made, Lorenco stated.
Rounding out the projects list, Lorenco added that dredging between wharves was still pending, as a viable solution for disposing of the spoils had not been found to date. This may become another grant request.
Earlier in the meeting, the board approved the sale of several surplus mowers and other obsolete equipment and made numerous appointments for a wide ranging variety of positions, everything from the antiquated sounding “measurer of wood and bark” to “fence viewers.” There were, however, many more positions the general public could grasp such as committee appointments for cemeteries to weights and measures.
While going through the pages of appointments, the board took the time to do a bit of committee housekeeping by dissolving the Flood Plain Advisory Board, the Bike and Pedestrian committee, and the Recreation Committee.
Before adjournment, the board asked the public to consider becoming a member of the town’s Scholarship Committee. The town has money waiting to be distributed to applicants through a process that allows taxpayers to donate money through a form attached to real estate invoices. Interested parties should contact the Select Board office.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board is scheduled for Tuesday, June 27, time to be announced.
Mattapoisett Select Board
By Marilou Newell