Mattapoisett considers search for new Town Hall location
From left: Select Board members Jordan Collyer, Jodi Bauer and Nicole Doyon Lynch at the Tuesday, Oct. 13 Select Board meeting. Photo by Grace Roche
From left: Select Board members Jordan Collyer, Jodi Bauer and Nicole Doyon Lynch at the Tuesday, Oct. 13 Select Board meeting. Photo by Grace Roche
MATTAPOISETT — The Select Board and Capital Planning Committee are considering replacing the current Town Hall, in desperate need of repairs, with either an existing or new structure.
A study conducted by Yarmouth-based Catalyst Architects found repairing the current building is not feasible, and the most financially responsible next step is finding a new place for town departments to operate from. It found renovations would be too costly and wouldn’t expand the too-small footprint.
Town Hall is located in a flood zone and is not currently ADA accessible, so any significant updates would require the town to raise the current structure above the flood line and make it accessible. The building is also too cramped to fit all the town’s departments in one place, with Mattapoisett Recreation, the Health Department and the Council on Aging housed at Center School.
Town officials discussed two options for a new Town Hall — buy a parcel of land and construct a brand new building, or retrofit a current building to suit the town’s needs.
While they explored potential next steps, the group agreed they are in the early stages of considering the potential for a new Town Hall and must have more discussions and conduct studies before planning further.
The Capital Planning Committee suggested the possibility of converting Old Hammondtown Elementary School, one of the town’s two elementary schools, into offices. Committee members argued the plan could be the least expensive option as it would slash the cost of running the town’s schools and construction work on an existing building could be cheaper.
Select Board member Nicole Doyon Lynch said she doesn’t want people to freak out over the suggestion of consolidating schools and using one as Town Hall.
“We're just talking about it, just committing to the studies. We have to, that’s our jobs as town officials, but at the end of the day, these are going to be matters at Town Meeting,” she said. “We’re not making decisions tonight.”
