Mattapoisett Select Board — October 13, 2026

The Mattapoisett Select Board met on October 13, 2026, handling several administrative matters, appointments, and presentations. The board opened the meeting with a public hearing on the proposed street layout of Cooper Way pursuant to MGL Chapter 82, Section 22. Lee Castagnetti, representing developer Haven Road LLC, confirmed that all planning and engineering requirements had been satisfied. The board voted to close the hearing and approved the intention to lay out Cooper Way as a public way to be placed on the upcoming town meeting warrant. Other routine approvals included meeting minutes from September 8 and September 22, 2026, the acceptance of Rachel's resignation from the Historical Commission, setting the recreational scalloping season for October 15 and commercial scalloping for November 1, and closing the warrant for the Special Town Meeting scheduled for November 9, 2026. The board also appointed Erica Correia as the new Treasurer-Collector, approved $798.75 in Disability Commission funding for Council on Aging ADA signage, and declared several surplus Highway Department vehicles and equipment items for public auction.

Town Counsel Robin Stein from KP Law presented the state Department of Energy Resources (DOER) consolidated local permitting process for renewable energy projects. Stein explained that municipalities must complete local permitting within 12 months for eligible clean energy projects, and the board formally approved the local process and designated Building Commissioner Ken Murphy as the town's Local Government Representative (LGR). In response to public comment from resident Bonnie De Sousa, Town Administrator Mike Lorenco provided an update on the stalled 6-megawatt landfill solar project, stating that interconnection issues with Eversource's substation upgrade had delayed the project, though ground breaking is anticipated in about a year.

The meeting concluded with a presentation by Andrea Willett and Yanni Harris of Catalyst Architects and Interiors on the Town Hall Space Needs Study. The study determined that renovating the current Town Hall is financially infeasible due to its location in a velocity flood zone, where raising the structure 74 inches above the first floor and meeting ADA compliance would prove cost-prohibitive. The architects recommended a single facility of approximately 18,500 gross square feet, estimated between $15 million and $24 million. The Capital Planning Committee and board members discussed the long-term feasibility of consolidating elementary education into Old Hammondtown School and converting Center School into municipal offices, noting that school renovation could potentially qualify for 45% to 50% state reimbursement through the MSBA. The board agreed to initiate discussions with the School Committee. Following general announcements, the board voted by roll call to enter executive session regarding contract negotiations with the Library Director.

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