Mattapoisett Town Meeting to discuss Select Board seats, Oakland Street reconstruction and more

MATTAPOISETT — A $4 million renovation of the Highway Department building. A $1.3 million Oakland Street drainage project. Expanding the Select Board from three to five members. Six requests for Community Preservation funds and a $34,474,066 town operating budget.

Mattapoisett voters will face those and other issues at the annual Town Meeting on Monday, May 12. The meeting will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. in the Old Rochester Regional High School auditorium.

Here’s a look at what’s on the agenda:

Select Board seats. Voters will decide whether to authorize the Select Board to petition the General Court for an act that would increase the Mattapoisett Select Board from three to five members. 

This citizens’ petition was submitted by Nicki Demakis, chair of the Mattapoisett Democratic Town Committee, who said that increasing the Select Board to five members would encourage more diverse perspectives, reduce the risk of deadlock votes and the impact of conflict repeals and also avoid Open Meeting Law violations.

While expanding the Board would increase costs, Demakis said she’s been told that these costs could be covered by the town budget.

If approved, the Select Board will vote to send the proposal to the state legislature through a Home Rule Petition. If the legislature enacts it into law before the May 2026 election, it will appear on the ballot for residents to then vote on whether to expand the board.

Mattapoisett Highway Building renovations. For the past three years, there has been a leak in the roof of the Mattapoisett Highway Building. Now the Mattapoisett Highway Department is requesting $4 million to pay for renovations. The money would cover the cost of design, planning, engineering, bidding, construction, equipping and furnishing.

In addition to repairing the roof, the project would also include new office spaces, additional garage space, improved bathroom facilities and a new break room.

According to Town Administrator Michael Lorenco, the building hasn’t had any major work done to it since the 1960s.

“I welcome anybody to walk through that building and tell me that we don’t need to do work on it,” he said.

This project would be funded through a Proposition 2 1/2 debt exclusion, with the impact on the average taxpayer being approximately $52 per year of the debt’s lifespan.

Proposition 2 1/2 is a tax levy limit that prevents towns from increasing the property tax levy more than 2.5% each year without voters’ approval. A debt exclusion allows a temporary tax increase above that limit to repay borrowing for a specific project per voters’ approval.

To offset the total cost, $1 million of Free Cash would be allocated to this project.

If approved at Town Meeting, this project would appear on the ballot in the May 20 town election.

Oakland Street reconstruction. After upgrading the water, sewer and gas lines on Oakland Street, the town is now looking for $1.3 million to complete a drainage project. Funds would come from raising and appropriating, transferring from available funds, or from borrowing money.

This project would be funded through a Proposition 2 1/2 debt exclusion, with the impact on the average taxpayer being approximately $30 per year of the debt’s lifespan.

To offset the total cost, $200,000 of Free Cash would be allocated to this project.

If approved at Town Meeting, this project would appear on the ballot in the May 20 town election.

Trailers on public roads. Residents will have the chance to vote on a request to amend the bylaw for parking trailers on public roads. If approved, the bylaw would require that all trailers, including those for boats, must be attached to a motor vehicle.

Lorenco said there are two reasons for this proposed bylaw: one, if a trailer needs to be moved but isn’t connected to a vehicle then situations that are “cumbersome” can occur and two, trailers don’t carry insurance.

Permanent easement on Pearl Street. Pearl Street is receiving upgrades from the intersection of County Road to the intersection of Church Street, which will include widening the road from 22 feet to 24 feet and constructing a sidewalk that complies with ADA standards. The existing saltwater collection system will also be fully replaced. 

Voters will be asked to authorize the Select Board to acquire land needed to complete this project. This could include public ways, slope, drainage, public utility and temporary construction easements.

There are also six proposals that would be funded through the Community Preservation Act, which include the following:

Affordable housing. The Community Preservation Committee has recommended the transfer of $250,000 from the CPA Undesignated Fund to the CPA Community Housing Fund, which could be used in the future for the acquisition, creation, preservation and support of community housing in the Town of Mattapoisett.

Museum carriage house. The Community Preservation Committee is looking for $45,000 to preserve, rehabilitate and restore the Museum Carriage House on Church Street. Improvements would include constructing a universal access entrance on Baptist Street and improving ADA entrance accessibility.

Hammond Cemetery restoration. Voters will be asked to appropriate $10,000 to restore up to 35 antique and historic gravestones at Hammond Cemetery. Funds would come from either the CPA Historic Preservation Fund or other available Community Preservation Fund revenues.

Historical Commission. In November 2024, the Mattapoisett Historical Commission completed the first stage of a community-wide survey of the town’s historical and cultural resources. Now the Commission is looking to enter a services contract with a preservation consultant to complete a survey plan, which is Phase III of the project. 

Entering this contract would cost $30,000 and come from either the CPA Historic Preservation Fund or from other available Community Preservation Fund revenues.

Depot Street Legion hall. The Florence Eastman American Legion Post 280 is looking for $10,544 to rehabilitate the Depot Street Legion Hall by providing building insulation by MassSave and a ramp handrail system.

Old Hammondtown School community garden. The Old Hammondtown School is looking for $17,500 to establish a school-based community garden as an outdoor classroom.

Various project funding. Voters will be asked about appropriating $150,000 from Available Free Cash for several projects and expenses, including improvements to the math curriculums at Center School and Old Hammondtown School, townwide APA improvements and to match funds for several anticipated grants. 

Funds would also go toward replacing a deteriorating bucket for the Highway Development’s loader and hiring a consultant to assist with MS4 compliance requirements.