Overview of Mattapoisett Town Meeting main issues

MATTAPOISETT — Thirty articles will be presented for approval at Mattapoisett Town Meeting this spring. 

Town Administrator Michael Lorenco presented the warrant for Town Meeting at a Mattapoisett Candidates Night on Wednesday, April 22. 

Voters will be asked to approve the town budget, general annual funding and the school budget. 

General funding includes maintenance on roads and schools, personnel salaries and community programs. 

Some infrastructure projects that are up for approval include the re-lining the Pine Island water mains, replacing a new culvert on Water Street and general maintenance on municipal buildings.

Residents will be asked to vote on two proposed by-laws— the Accessory Dwelling Unit By-law and Cottage Community By-law. 

The Accessory Unit By-law is an amendment to the current ADU by-law making it easier to understand the restrictions on the structures. Currently, ADU’s can be built no larger than 900 square feet, but with a special permission the structures can be up to 1,200 square feet. 

“The Planning Board has provided amendments to the zoning law to make it essentially easier to understand what your limitations are,” Lorenco said. 

The Cottage Community By-law would allow for housing developments to contain multiple detached homes that share a central green space

“As I understand it, [the by-law] allows you to build a smaller cluster of cottages on an acre of land,” Lorenco said. 

A kennel regulation bylaw amendment is up for approval. This by-law named “Ollie’s Law” improves the licensing and inspection of dog kennels. 

Town Meeting is Monday, May 11 at 6:30 p.m. and will be hosted at Old Rochester Regional High School Auditorium located at 135 Marion Road.