Mattapoisett Town Meeting recap, meeting continues Tuesday night
Mattapoisett Town Meeting voters approved 40 agenda items on Monday night with 11 items to go on Tuesday night.
Among the items approved, were two articles giving a total of $81,000 to the next 1.1-mile phase of the Mattapoisett Bike Path. At more than $4 million, the phase will be largely state funded.
To date, approximately $420,000 from the town, grants and private funders has gone towards costs to get the path from Mattapoisett Neck Road to Depot Street.
Townspeople also voted to appropriate $40,000 for design and cost estimates to move a sewer main located at Eel Pond. According to Water and Sewer Superintendent Nick Nicholson, the main was installed in 1978 near a creek that has since moved south.
The possibility of damage to the main caused by a large storm has been a concern for some time due to its location, vulnerability and the potential environmental impact if it is damaged. These concerns were brought to the forefront recently in conjunction with a 290-foot pier proposed for the nearby Good Speed Island, which some believe could affect the main if it broke apart in a storm.
Nicholson said the eventual proposal to move the main would likely bring it to Route 6.
“It will be a costly project when we get to that,” said Nicholson.
Town Administrator Mike Gagne said the project will be put at the top of a FEMA grant funding list once a plan is in place.
Capital Planning Committee Chair Chuck McCullough presented the 10-year capital improvement pla,n which forecasts approximately $10 million in building construction and renovations, including a new Town Hall and Fire Department.
“We’ve done a lot in ten years, but there is still lots to be done,” said McCullough.
This year, voters approved $393,396 for the capital plan. The funds include $40,000 for an equipped cruiser for the Police Department.
Spending eight to 16 hours in the cars, Police Chief Mary Lyons said the Chevrolet Tahoe that will be purchased is comfortable and allows has space for all the equipment officers need.
“Technically, that is their office space,” said Lyons.
The funds also pay for four pedestrian crossing signals on Route 6 at Barstow Street and Pearl Street, totalling $32,000.
As for road improvements, voters approved $650,000 for the highway department’s plan. Usually $200,000 is appropriated at Town Meeting, but increased funds were requested due to the bridge out on Acushnet Road.
The funds allow the town to continue with the five-year road improvement plan while also moving forward on the bridge replacement.
Several potentially controversial items are on tap for Tuesday night’s meeting, which will resume at 6:30 p.m. at the Old Rochester Regional auditorium. See the results from Monday night below:
Special Town Meeting
Article 1: Bike Path Engineering Fund – PASSED
Article 2: Mechanic Street Water Main Replacement – PASSED
Article 3: Cove Street Water Main Project – PASSED
Article 4: Cove Street Sewer Project Funding – PASSED
Article 5: Appropriation for Snow and Ice Costs of Past Winter – PASSED
Article 6: Reserve Fund Supplements FY15 – PASSED
Town Meeting
Article 1: Elected Officers’ Compensation – PASSED
Article 2: General Operating Budget – PASSED
Article 3: Sewer Reserve Account – PASSED
Article 4: Water Reserve Account – PASSED
Article 5: Appropriate for OPEB Liabilities – PASSED
Article 6: Departmental Revolving Fund Authorization – PASSED
Article 7: Appropriation to Capital Improvement Stabilization Fund – PASSED
Article 8: Capital Improvement Plan Report – PASSED
Article 9: Capital Plan Funding – PASSED
Article 10: Phase Five Town Road Improvement Plan Funding – PASSED
Article 11: Cyclical Annual Property Revaluation and Town Mapping – PASSED
Article 12: Storm Hazard Mitigation Grant Match – PASSED
Article 13: Waterfront Improvement Grant - PASSED
Article 14: Funding for Development of A Harbor Plan – PASSED
Article 15: Repairs to Town Wharves – PASSED
Article 16: Geographic Information Systems and MS4 Permitting – PASSED
Article 17: Adoption of Personnel Schedules – PASSED
Article 18: Amendment to Personnel Bylaw – PASSED
Article 19: Funding Additional Bristol County Agricultural High School Students – PASSED
Article 20: Allocation of Revenues Community Preservation Act – PASSED
Article 21: CPA Funding – Bike Path Engineering – PASSED
Article 22: CPA Funding – Preservation, Restoration, Rehabilitation to Quaker Meeting House – PASSED
Article 23: CPA Funding – Preservation, Restoration and Rehabilitation to the Town Wharves – PASSED
Article 24: CPA Funding – Cataloging Historic Museum Artifacts Project – PASSED
Article 25: Center School Clock Maintenance Committee — PASSED
Article 26: Acushnet Road Layout Taking on Curve at Bog Area — PASSED
Article 27: Road Easement Taking Acushnet Road Tinkham Pont Area — PASSED
Article 28: PILOT Agreement – Tinkham Hill Solar — PASSED
Article 29: Acceptance of a Parcel of Land — PASSED
Article 30: Vehicle Replacement Water & Sewer — PASSED
Article 31: Well #2 Refurbishment Phase 3 — PASSED
Article 32: Design and Costing New Forced Main at Eel Pond — PASSED
Article 33: Engineering Design of Water Main Replacements — PASSED
Article 34: Municipal Aggregation of Electricity and Natural Gas — PASSED