ORANGE – The Selectboard meeting on Wednesday night saw a lengthy agenda, including an approved motion to create a new subcommittee for addressing dock issues at Lake Mattawa, a plan to dissolve the Armory Commission and a motion to assign Town Administrator Matthew Fortier to apply for a financial review of the town on behalf of the Selectboard.

Lake Mattawa DEP Subcommittee creation approved

The discussion on Lake Mattawa relates to a letter received from the Waterways Program of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regarding a complaint filed by a resident. The letter addresses an issue of recent dock installations at the lake not being done through the state Chapter 91 licensing program. 

Selectboard member Jane Peirce was the town contact for Waterways DEP, and she explained that the town can adopt the program to issue dock licensing permits, or the state can do so. Peirce later explained that the nuance with this program comes from the land connecting to the docks, such as a walkway or stairway, that would have public use, while the dock itself would be private. Peirce said “This will take some negotiation and finesse,” when it comes to leveling the interest of the property owners on Lake Mattawa who own the docks with that of the town in complying with the state on Chapter 91.

Vice Chair Patricia Lussier expressed her concern with the “no trespassing” signs or other access restrictions present on some locations on Holtshire Road on the east side of the lake, that the signs violate public access to the land.

“I care about the fact that people are prohibiting other people from accessing that lake and they have absolutely no right to,” Lussier said during the meeting.

Perice proposed the idea of forming a subcommittee to be accommodating to property owners on the lake, which was approved. Seven members, including Lussier, would create the subcommittee and gather information to move forward on compliance with Chapter 91.

Armory Commission planned for disbandment

The agenda included a discussion of the Armory Commission and the appointment of a new member Pennie Smith. Selectmen Chair Thomas Smith began with noting a discussion he had with Town Administrator Matthew Fortier on moving forward with expanding the commission when the Orange Armory, located at 135 East Main St., is no longer in use.

“I have an issue with expanding the Armory Commission at all since the building is no longer habitable,” Smith stated.

He proposed tabling the matter until the next meeting and formally disbanding the commission. Perice felt that it would be appropriate, as the building is no longer in use and the commission “having no task in front of them.” Lussier and Selectboard member Julie Davis agreed with the proposal, and a formal motion to disband the commission will be made at the next meeting. A motion to appoint a new member was not made.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, former State Rep. Denise Andrews expressed her opposition to disbanding the commission. She noted that there is community interest in maintaining the armory for historical value that she’s been made aware of, and felt that interest in the commission had “eroded.” 

“It’s not just a building, it’s a historic artifact of this country and you cannot decommission history,” Denise expressed to the board.

Town administrator approved to submit financial review

The Selectboard asked Town Administrator Matthew Fortier to begin the process of submitting a financial management review to the state. Fortier noted that for this review to be done, the Selectboard would have to apply to the state for this review, which Fortier would do on their behalf as town administrator. This comes after news of a $338,000 in fraudulent invoices being paid by town employees was discovered last fall. Fortier could not be reached for further comment on the specifics of the review.

Davis asked for clarification from Fortier as to how many reviews would be available to the town, and Fortier noted “about a dozen” reviews could be done, though he didn’t specify which reviews, or what state department would be in charge of the process. Fortier referenced a 2004 financial review done for the town by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue that included a specific list of actions recommended, including paying employees a bi-weekly wage.

The motion to have Fortier apply for a financial review on behalf of the Selectboard was approved.

Erin-Leigh Hoffman can be reached at ehoffman@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.