Municipal departments share updates on key ongoing projects

MATTAPOISETT — As the town looks to tighten the Highway and Water and Sewage Departments’ budgets, both departments presented their budgetary requests for next year. 

They explained the current and future projects and needs during a Tuesday, Feb. 10 Select Board meeting. 

Select Board Chair Tyler Macallister said Mattapoisett is consistently on or under budget and never asks for overrides. 

“This is going to be a very interesting year for many of the towns, but right now Mattapoisett continues to look like we are going to survive this latest storm,” Macallister said. 

Highway Surveyor Garrett Bauer said the Highway Department has had success in multiple projects this year, including reconstructing Pearl Street, sealing cracks and painting stripes in various roads.

The department has several ongoing projects such as improving drainage, roads and culverts across town. 

Two main culverts of concern are on Water Street and Pine Island Road. Construction on the Water Street culvert could begin after Labor Day once final plans are presented at Town Meeting. 

The Highway Department also plans to map and record data about all 58 culverts across town. 

“They'll all be mapped on our (Geographic Information System) program, so anybody in the future can get it on GIS and see all our culverts and see where they are and what kind of condition they're in,” Bauer said. 

Henri Renauld from the Water and Sewer Department presented some of the ongoing projects the department plans to finish this year. 

“Fortunately, right now we're still on the budget, but it was a long process,” Renauld said. 

Renauld plans to bring at least two projects to Town Meeting — relining Pine Island Road pipes and redesign the North Street water main. 

Renauld hopes to start work on Pine Island Road in September.