MATTAPOISETT — Nineteen projects requested by town departments totaling a potential cost of $1,224,800 were ranked in order of priority by the Capital Planning Committee.

An ambulance replacement, which would cost $360,000, topped the list.

On Monday, March 4, Capital Planning Committee Chair Michael Dahill presented the Mattapoisett Select Board with a list of potential projects for fiscal year 2025 to be considered at Town Meeting in May.

Dahill said that the Capital Planning Committee has been meeting with town departments regarding capital plans for the next 10 years. He provided the Select Board with the plans for each department.

Dahill also provided the Select Board with capital project requests that could be covered with enterprise funds.

“In fiscal year 2025 the biggest single thing is the sewer treatment update,” said Dahill.
According to the Capital Planning Committee, the sewer treatment update could cost $8 million but may be lower due to a grant received by the town of Fairhaven.

The project would be paid for using money from Mattapoisett’s water enterprise fund.

Mattapoisett sewerage is pumped to the Town of Fairhaven wastewater treatment plant for treatment and disposal, according to the Town of Mattapoisett.

In fiscal year 2026, the Capital Planning Committee expects to use $10 million of water enterprise funds to repair Long Wharf. Dahill said that this project could be pushed back.

Also included in the plan were repairs to Center School and Old Hammondtown school, which Dahill said hasn’t received much repair in multiple decades. Repairs listed for fiscal year 2025 include water heater replacements for both schools and new fire doors for Center School.

“I think the local schools did a really good job of trying to be thorough and identifying issues around the building,” said Dahill.

Dahill said that Old Rochester Regional High School is in the middle of a significant capital needs review, which will result in additional projects that would require non-enterprise funding.

Town Administrator Mike Lorenco noted that the school needs a new HVAC system, which he said could cost over $2 million.

According to Dahill, funding for projects at Old Rochester Regional High School would be divided between Mattapoisett, Marion and Rochester.