Mattapoisett Town Meeting voters to address budget, bike path, swordfish

MATTAPOISETT – Mattapoisett Town Meeting voters will get to have their say on the 27 articles that make up the warrant at Town Meeting Monday, May 9.

The town’s proposed total operating budget is $30,456,818.

The school portion of that budget, $14,919,509, has sparked controversy this year, with the Finance Committee questioning the cost per pupil, administrative salaries, and the need for two elementary schools.

Voters will also get to weigh in on new littering bylaws, bike path design funding, a refurbished swordfish weathervane and new ultraviolet water filters. The meeting will take place on May 9 at 6:30 p.m. at Old Rochester Regional High School.

Here’s a look at some of the items that will be discussed.

The School Budget. The town’s budget is usually a “basic step” but could be a “hot button issue” this year, said Town Administrator Mike Lorenco. The Mattapoisett Finance Committee voted against this year’s school budget, citing concerns about the cost of the elementary schools compared to the high school, administration salary raises and whether there is a need for two elementary schools.

If Town Meeting voters take the committee's recommendation and vote against the school budget, school officials and the School Committee would have to go back to the drawing board to come up with a lesser budget number to present to a special Town Meeting. Or the committee could recommend that Town Meeting approve a reduced school budget.

If that lesser budget passed, school officials would have to decide what to cut to live within that reduced budget and have said publicly that layoffs could be possible.

Police Department Accreditation. The department is asking voters to appropriate $20,000 fund the accreditation process for the department. If the town does this and the department receives accreditation, the town is able to save money on insurance and open up grant opportunities, according to Lorenco.

The Capital Plan. Requested funding for this year’s capital plan totals $824,151 and includes road maintenance, a new telephone system at Town Hall and a new police cruiser and motorcycle. Lorenco noted that this will be the first new cruiser purchased in quite some time, as this hasn’t been on the warrant in three years.

New Pickleball Courts. A total of $55,000 is being requested to reconstruct the Center School basketball courts and extend them to add pickleball courts. This will be funded by Community Preservation Act funds, which allocate a portion of property tax funds for projects in specific categories such as historic preservation and open space.

Help for the Bike Path. The Community Preservation Committee is asking to designate $120,000 in funds to hire a consultant to “assist with pre-design efforts” for the bike path, Lorenco said. This portion will fund the design from Depot Street to North Street, though there are plans to extend to the Industrial Drive Connector. He said that this would help “push [the project] along.”

Restoring the Swordfish Weathervane. The Community Preservation Historical Fund is asking to designate $12,500 to restore the iconic swordfish weathervane at the Mattapoisett wharf to display in the Mattapoisett Museum and to create a replica that is more “resistant to the elements” to be re-installed at the end of Long Wharf.

Snow Stake Regulations. Residents will be asked whether or not to restrict the materials allowed for snow stakes, which are used as markers at the property’s curb edges to prevent plows and other vehicles from damaging lawns.

Lorenco stated that in the past, residents have used various materials as snow stakes, such as metal rebar, which could be dangerous for passersby. This amendment states that snow states must be at least three feet tall and can only be made from wood, plastic or fiberglass.

Littering and Dumping Regulations. This will amend the general Mattapoisett bylaws to allow the town to have “some ability at a local level” to assess a fine for illegal littering and dumping, which is currently enforced only at that level by the state. “This change to the bylaw lets people know we want the town to be clean,” said Lorenco.

New Water Filters. The town will vote whether to appropriate a sum of $720,000 “for the purpose of replacing the failing Oakland Street Sewer Main.” The filtration system has been investigated over the past two years and the Water and Sewer Commission “has decided it’s best to put in a UV treating system,” said Lorenco. This system will also be voted on by Marion and Fairhaven, which use the same drinking water source. Henry Renald, the Superintendent of Water and Sewer, will do a detailed presentation about this at Town Meeting and answer any questions.