Mattapoisett Select Board reviews, approves warrant for Town Meeting

MATTAPOISETT — The Select Board and Finance Committee approved 30 articles for Town Meeting, including budgets, expenditures and secondary housing unit bylaws.  

The two groups held a joint meeting Tuesday, April 28 to review the warrant before Town Meeting on May 11.

Town Administrator Michael Lorenco presented and briefly explained each article before the two committees agreed to approve the warrant. 

Articles that will be presented at Town Meeting include the annual town’s budget, school budget and multiple funding expenditures. 

Some costs increased this year including the Public Health Nurses fund which increased from $5,000 to $10,000. 

“We're going to spend more so we decided to increase it this year,” Lorenco said. 

Article 14 that seeks to borrow $725,000 to reline the Pine Island water mains was approved.

Lorenco said the current pipes are made of cast iron and need to be updated. 

“This would reline that pipe to alleviate some of the sentiment and problems that are occurring in the area,” Lorenco said. 

Other articles set aside funds for maintenance at the Police Department, Fire Department and Department of Public Works. 

Residents will be able to vote on all the articles presented at Town Meeting alongside two proposed by-laws— the Accessory Dwelling Unit By-law and Cottage Community By-law. 

The Accessory Unit By-law would allow for secondary residential units on properties that already have one residential unit. 

The Cottage Community By-law would allow for housing developments to contain multiple detached homes that share a central green space. 

Town Meeting is Monday, May 11 at 6:30 p.m. and will be hosted at Old Rochester Regional High School Auditorium located at 135 Marion Road.