The February 27, 2025 Meeting of the Barnstable Town Council was conducted in person. The public was able to attend in person or participate remotely in Public Comment or during a Public Hearing via Zoom. The public was able to view the meeting on Barnstable Government Access Xfinity Channel 8 or 1070 or in High Definition on Xfinity Channel 1072 or via the live stream through the Town website. Town Council President Craig Tamash chaired the meeting and called the meeting to order. President Tamash announced that Councilors Seth Burdick, Felicia Penn, and Gordon Starr have joined the meeting via Zoom and that all votes will be roll call. Town Clerk Ann Quirk took the Roll Call.

 

Town Councilor Betty Ludtke welcomed Lieutenant Colonel Patrick McNamara, an Eagle Scout, who comes from a family of military service to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.  His father flew P-47s and P-51s in World War II; one brother served in the U.S. Air Force and two brothers in the U.S. Navy.   Patrick enlisted in the Air National Guard in 1977, receiving an officer commission through the Air National Guard Academy of Military Science in 1979. He served in many capacities with the Air Guard, including contracting, auditing, aircraft maintenance, personnel, and communications.  He was a support officer and a Detachment Commander.  Patrick received many commendations for his outstanding service and accomplishments, including the Louisiana Emergency Service Medal, the Massachusetts Desert Storm Medal and the Massachusetts Medal of Merit.  In 2005, Patrick was awarded the Cape Cod and Islands Red Cross Heroes Mentor Role Model Award.  That same year he married the love of his life, Erica.  Patrick and Erica live in Marstons Mills.  They have two sons and three grandchildren. Although Patrick retired from the Air Guard in 2010 after 32 years of service, he immediately began working as a Quality Assurance Specialist in the civil service for the Air Force and U.S. Space Force at the Cape Cod Space Force Station, Sagamore, MA until 2021. Patrick’s service continues to this day as a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.  Patrick owns a Cessna-172 aircraft and is an instrument rated pilot with more than 1100 hours of Pilot in Command time.  He is the District One, Northern Region Auxiliary Aviation Coordination Officer.  He has volunteered over 500 hours towards Auxiliary flying missions and related activities.  Patrick is also a member of the Civil Air Patrol, Coastal Patrol Squadron 18 at Otis Air National Guard Base. Patrick’s volunteerism is also demonstrated in his participation in the Otis Civilian Advisory Council, the Cape Cod Military Support Foundation and the Boy Scouts of America.

 

President Tamash asked all to remain standing for a Moment of Silence in honor of Donald Grissom who spent twelve years of his career as the Town of Barnstable Town Council’s Administrator. President Tamash shared a couple of lines from his obituary. “His classy, yet charmingly rumpled, look consisted of his wide-wale corduroys, Brooks Brothers shirts, tweed sports jackets and Burberry scarves.” It also said that he was a free spirit.  If you knew Donald, those two points are right on. Please keep him in your thoughts and all of your loved ones as we have a moment of silence.

 

Opioid Check Presentations to:

  • Duffy Health Center: Stephanie Wroten, CEO; Daniel Rodrigues, Director of Substance Use Disorder and Outreach Programs; Jane Kokernak, Senior Grants Officer
  • Sharing Kindness: Dr. Kim Mead-Walters, Executive Director
  • WellStrong: Alicia Conlin, CEO; Gioia Persuitte, Development Director

 

RIZE Grant recipients:

  • AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod: Eliza Morrison, Director of Harm Reduction Services,

and Brad Badgley, Senior Director of Harm Reduction & Sexual Health Services

  • Behavioral Health Innovators, Inc.: Sheila House, Board President
  • Hopeful Outreach of Cape Cod: Patrick Downey, Board President, and Amanda Jacob,

Co-Founder and Treasurer

  • Parents Supporting Parents: Charles T. Passios, Treasurer, and Pat Dutra, Board Member

 

Next was Public Comment which was followed by Council Response to Public Comment.

 

President Tamash announced that Town Manager Communications for the period of February 6-25, 2025 had been pre-recorded by Town Manager Mark Ells and was shown on our Government Access Channel prior to the meeting. The recorded version of Mr. Ells’s Town Manager Communications may be viewed here and the itemized list is shared below:

  1. We continue with the preparation of the Capital and Operating Budgets for FY 2026. We continue to follow the budget action calendar with the submittal of the recommended FY 2026 Capital Budget to Town Council in the first week of March with a first reading of the Capital Budget on April 3, 2025.  A Town Manager Fiscal Year 2026 Proposed Fee Hearing is scheduled for mid-March. For information on our fiscal year budgets please view the Town’s Open Budget website at http://budget.townofbarnstable.us.
  2. On Wednesday, February 19, 2025, on the advice of legal counsel, the Hyannis Main Street Waterfront Historic District Commission voted to issue a temporary moratorium on the review of applications for certificates of appropriateness for art projects within the District. This brief Moratorium is intended to provide an opportunity for the Commission to establish objective, content-neutral criteria and guidelines for its review of applications for proposed art in the District. Establishing such criteria is important to ensure the Commission understands and respects the artists’ First Amendment rights as they conduct their reviews.
  3. On Monday, February 24, 2025, the Executive Board for the Cape Cod & Island Wastewater Trust Fund (CCIWTF) met to discuss the Draft 2025 Intended Use Plan (IUP).  As the letter to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner illustrates, the proposed changes would impact Cape towns’ eligibility for State Revolving Fund (SRF) loans and CCIWTF principal subsidies.  I sent this initial letter to the DEP Commissioner for two reasons.  First because the SRF program in part falls under the DEP.  Second because the DEP Commissioner is on the 3-member board of the Clean Water Trust.  The Clean Water Trust finances the DEP SRF IUP program.  The letter was meant to advise the DEP Commissioner of Barnstable’s concern prior to my formal oral and written testimony planned for the Draft 2025 IUP Hearing on Monday, March 3, 2025.  The Executive Board voted to submit comments on this matter.  The Executive Board’s letter will be similar to what I have sent to the DEP Commissioner.  In addition, I plan to write another letter for submission to DEP on March 3, 2025 and to provide oral testimony at their Draft 2025 IUP Hearing.  On February 27, 2025 there is a meeting with Cape towns on the Environmental Bond Bill which will include a discussion of proposed funding to be included in the Environmental Bond Bill that would supplement the Clean Water Trust to maintain the program into the future.  I plan to add additional language to the letter referenced above after hearing the discussion regarding the proposed Environmental Bond Bill.  I will keep the Town Council advised as this matter progresses.
  4. As we continue our discussion and education regarding emerging contaminants in our environment, we share the referenced information and links for the public’s review and consideration. In February 2024, the FDA announced that all grease-proofing agents containing PFAS are no longer being sold in the U.S. In January 2025, the FDA issued a Notice in the Federal Register announcing its determination that the 35 food contact notifications (FCNs) related to PFAS-containing food contact substances as grease-proofers applied to paper and paperboard food packaging are no longer effective based on the abandonment of these uses.

For more information, please see Authorized Uses of PFAS in Food Contact Applications and Market Phase-Out of Grease-Proofing Substances Containing PFAS.

For more information:

https://www.fda.gov/food/process-contaminants-food/questions-and-answers-pfas-food#:~:text=In%20February%202024%2C%20the%20FDA,containing%20food%20contact%20substances%20as

https://barnstablewaterresources.com/epa-unveils-roadmap-to-fight-pfas-problem/

  1. In my last communication I reported that we had received an email from MIT as a follow-up to my conversation with Sanjana Paul from the MIT Renewable Energy Facility Siting Clinic requesting that Barnstable enter into a letter agreement with MIT regarding spring semester continuation of the clinic. I have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the clinic to proceed.  I am available to review and for further discussion.
  2. Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands closed its social dine-in luncheon at the Barnstable Adult and Community Center at the beginning of February. Elder Services Public Information Officer Laura Roskos said the decision is due to the expected loss or at least dramatic reduction of $200,000 from the Federal Nutrition Services Incentive program that began sunsetting last year. Barnstable Council on Aging Director Kelly Howley has announced a new collaboration with the Family Table Collaborative for weekly Thursday meals which will begin on Thursday, March 6th. The COA is reaching out to all previous congregate meal attendees to let them know about the new program which may be modified to include additional days as time goes on.
  3. Kelly Collopy, Communications Manager for the Public Works Department, will provide an update on Water Resource Management planning including the Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan. Ms. Collopy’s PowerPoint presentation may be viewed here.
  4. Following Ms. Collopy, Barnstable Public Schools Superintendent Sara Ahern and School Facilities Director Doug Boulanger will provide an overview of Town Council Agenda Items 2025-079 and 2025-084.

 

The Council voted to Act on Public Session Minutes:  February 6, 2025.

 

Communications from elected officials, boards, committees, and staff, commission reports, correspondence and announcements.

Presentation from the Hyannis PFAS Community Working Group

Betsy Young, Greater Hyannis Civic Association; Rachel Youngling, Hyannis Park Civic Association; Chris Powicki, Sierra Club’s Cape Cod & Islands Group; Linda Bolinger, Community Liaison; Tom Cambareri, Technical Advisor, Sole Source Consulting

The PowerPoint may be viewed here.

 

Update on Department of Environmental Protection Technical Assistance Grant for the Barnstable County Firefighter Training Area: Dan Santos, Director, Department of Public Works

 

President Tamash announced that he has received a letter from MassDevelopment and they will keep us informed; Change of Command at COMM tomorrow; and upcoming training for Town Councilors and Board, Committee, and Commissions.

 

Orders of the Day.

 

OLD BUSINESS

AGENDA ITEM 2025-070 Appropriation Order in the amount of $40,025 for the purpose of purchasing pro shop merchandise for resale.

Presented by Community Services Director Chris Gonnella. The item was approved.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2025-074 Resolve approving and adopting the Town of Barnstable 2025 Housing Production Plan dated May 2, 2024.

Presented by Planning & Development Director Jim Kupfer.

Councilor Paula Schnepp made a motion to withdraw the item which was seconded and approved.

Mr. Kupfer’s PowerPoint presentation may be viewed here.

 

NEW BUSINESS

President Tamash took two items out of order: AGENDA ITEMS 2025-079 and 2025-084.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2025-079 Resolve authorizing the Superintendent of Schools to submit a Statement of Interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority for Barnstable Intermediate School.

Presented by Barnstable Public Schools Superintendent Sara Ahern. The item was approved.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2025-084 Resolve authorizing the Superintendent of Schools to submit a Statement of Interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority for Barnstable High School.

Presented by Barnstable Public Schools Superintendent Sara Ahern. The item was approved.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2025-077 Authorizing the grant of an easement for gas facilities on town-owned land at 725 Main Street in Hyannis.

Presented by First Assistant Town Attorney Tom LaRosa. The item was approved.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2025-078 Appropriation Order in the amount of $225,000 to fund disposal costs at the Solid Waste Division of the Department of Public Works was referred to a Public Hearing on 03/06/2025.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2025-082 Appropriation Order in the amount of $52,000 for the purpose of making repairs and replacing irrigation well pumps and equipment for the Olde Barnstable Fairgrounds Golf Course pump house

was referred to a Public Hearing on 03/06/2025.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2025-080 Authorization to expend a gift in the amount of $500 to the Town of Barnstable Marine and Environmental Affairs Department.

Presented by Natural Resources Director Nina Coleman. The item was approved.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2025-081 Transfer Order in the amount of $100,000 for the purpose of funding the insurance deductible associated with a burst frozen pipe at the Barnstable Adult Community Center.

Presented by David Anthony, Director of Asset Management. The item was approved.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2025-142 Transfer of a portion of the Cape Cod Collaborative School Property from the School Department to the Town Manager for sewer purposes received a First Reading and was referred to a Second Reading on 03/06/2025.

 

The next regularly scheduled Town Council Meeting will be held on Thursday, March 6, 2025. The public is able to view through Xfinity High Definition Channel 1072 (or Xfinity Channel 8 or 1070) or Live Streaming on the Town of Barnstable’s website. Real-time public comment may be addressed to the Barnstable Town Council utilizing the Zoom video link or telephone number and access meeting code which will be included on the Agenda. Written Comments may be submitted to:  https://tobweb.town.barnstable.ma.us/boardscommittees/towncouncil/Town_Council/Agenda-Comment.asp. The meeting Agenda will be available on the Town of Barnstable’s website (www.townofbarnstable.us).