Mattapoisett Special Town Meeting voters to discuss Holy Ghost Grounds, free cash

Nov 7, 2022

Event has passed

MATTAPOISETT – Mattapoisett will hold a Special Town Meeting on Monday, Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m. at Old Rochester Regional High School, 135 Marion Road.

Mattapoisett voters will have their say on nine different articles regarding subjects like the transfer of funds and road work.

“There’s nothing too alarming here,” said Town Administrator Mike Lorenco at the Oct. 18 Select Board meeting when he discussed the articles up for vote.

“Hopefully people will still come out,” Lorenco said, referring to the lack of debate surrounding the articles.

The Select Board met in a joint meeting with the Finance Committee on Oct. 27, where they voted to recommend the articles on the Special Town Meeting warrant as presented.

The only article debated at the meeting was Article 8, which will designate $150,000 of free cash to renovate the Holy Ghost Grounds, a property the town owns on Park Street.

Lorenco stated that at this time, there was no plan in place for the Holy Ghost Grounds, but he was involved in discussions about preparing the building for event rentals. He said that the funds themselves would be used for construction supplies, with Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School students assisting with the renovations.

Select Board Member Jodi Bauer, a member of the group ‘Friends of the Mattapoisett Dog Park,' stated that some of the property would be designated for the dog park.

Two members of the Finance Committee voted not to recommend the article, due to the absence of a plan. The other five members of the committee voted to recommend it. The Select Board voted to recommend the article.

Articles 1, 2, 3, and 7 would appropriate sums of free cash that the town has left over after paying other expenses to other funds or projects.

Article 4 allows Mattapoisett to take back previously approved designations for funds that “they no longer consider necessary.” For example, a grant approved for an emergency generator, which is no longer needed. A full list of these designations can be found on the town’s website.

Article 5 makes some adjustments on designated funds in the Fiscal Year 2023 plan, outlining how much certain items on the plan will cost, such as designating $35,000 for inservice training for the police department. The article outlines thirteen items in all, and can be found on the town’s website.

Article 6 allows the town to close early voting on any Saturday that is also considered a state holiday.

Voters that vote yes on Article 9 will approve $337,000 from the Sewer Betterment Reserve Fund for payments in the Fiscal Year 2023 budget.

The full Town Meeting Warrant can be found online at https://www.mattapoisett.net/town-clerk/events/131131.

Event has passed

Event Date: 

Monday, November 14, 2022 - 6:30pm