Town Council Meeting – Thursday, June 25, 2026
The June 25, 2026 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. Please note that this in-person meeting will not be suspended or terminated if technological problems interrupt the remote connection or the live broadcast or live stream. If the public has a particular interest in a topic to be discussed, please consider attending the meeting in person. Town Council President Craig Tamash chaired the meeting and called the meeting to order. President Tamash announced that Councilors Gordon Starr and John Crow are participating remotely this evening. Town Clerk Ann Quirk took the Roll Call.
Town Councilor Betty Ludtke introduced US Navy Rear Admiral Harold L. Robinson to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. A native of Massachusetts, and current resident of Centerville, US Navy Rear Admiral Harold L. Robinson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, IA, in 1968. His major fields of study were History and Political Science. He earned a Bachelor of Hebrew Letters in 1972, a Master of Arts and ordination as a Rabbi in 1974 all from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion Cincinnati, OH. In 1999 the College Institute awarded him the degree of Doctor of Divinity, and in 2005 the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters was conferred by Coe College. Following ordination, he was Rabbi of Temple Israel of Gary, IN, from 1974-1977, the Cape Cod Synagogue from 1977-1998 and B’nai Zion Congregation in Shreveport, LA, 1998-2006. Harold also served for seven years as Chair of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, Cape and Islands Advisory Council. Commissioned an Ensign in the US Naval Reserve, Seminarian Student Program, in 1971, Rear Admiral Robinson received a superseding commission as a Chaplain in 1975. His Reserve Component assignments have included, Individual Ready Reserve Unit 417; Marine Air Ground Task Forces, Chaplain Department 713; Training Officer, Executive Officer and, twice, Commanding Officer of Marine Air Ground Task Forces, Chaplain Department 101; and Regimental Chaplain, 25th Marine Regiment 4th Marine Division. He was assigned in 1989 as Executive Officer and then in 1990 as Commanding Officer of Submarine Force, Atlantic, Chaplain Department 101, and as Staff Chaplain for the Commander, Naval Reserve Readiness Command, Region One, from 1992-1994. He was Force Chaplain, Iceland Defense Force, 1995-1996, Group Chaplain 4th Force Service Support Group, Marine Forces Reserve, USMC, 1995-1998 and Contingency Directorate Chaplain at Naval Facilities Engineering Command and Seabee National Chaplain 1998, and as Special Assistant for Reserve Manpower Office of the Chief of Naval Chaplains from 2000-2004. Rear Adm. Robinson has been a basic course instructor at Chaplain School, Newport, RI; participated in numerous Marine Corps exercises; served at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island; Naval Submarine Base New London, CT; Naval Shipyard Portsmouth, NH; at Naval Training Center Orlando, FL; at Naval Training Center Great Lakes, IL; and at the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Washington Navy Yard. Overseas assignments have included: Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy; Site One, Holy Lock, Scotland; Iceland Defense Force, Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland; Marine Corps Base Smedley D. Butler, Okinawa, Japan; : Naval Support Activity Guam: US Naval Forces, Central Command, Fifth Fleet, Manama, Bahrain: and Joint Task Force Horn of Africa, Camp Lemonier Djibouti. Additionally, he served US and coalition Forces at Joint Task Force GITMO, Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Cuba, and in Qatar, Afghanistan, Kuwait and Iraq. Selected for Flag rank in 2003, in 2004 he was assigned as Deputy Chief of Chaplains for Reserve Matters and Director of Religious Programs, Marine Force Reserve. In 2025, Harold was awarded the “Legion of Honor Distinguished Service Award” by the Four Chaplains Memorial Foundation on the 82nd anniversary of the loss of the famed “Four Chaplains” during WWII and the 250th Anniversary of the Army Chaplains Corps. The award is given to outstanding members of society whose lives model the giving spirit and unconditional service to community, nation, and humanity without regard to race, religion or creed. The four chaplains, for which the foundation is named, lost their lives when the US Army Transport Ship, Dorchester, sank in the Atlantic Ocean on February 3, 1943. When giving their life jackets to others, Rabbi Goode did not call out for a Jew; Father Washington did not call out for a Catholic; nor did the Reverends Fox and Poling call out for a Protestant. They simply gave their life jackets to the next man in line.
President Tamash asked all to remain standing for a Moment of Silence dedicated in honor of Town Councilor Felicia Penn who passed away on June 15, 2026 after a courageous battle with brain cancer. Felicia devoted 36 years to her family business, Puritan Clothing Company of Cape Cod before striking out on her own in 1999 but even more impressive was her civic life. Felicia’s civic footprint on Cape Cod was extraordinary. In 1993, she was recognized as the Business and Professional Association’s Woman of the Year, and in 2005 she was named the Mercy Otis Warren Woman of the Year. She was the first female president of the Rotary Club of Hyannis and presided over the United Way of Cape Cod. She worked to bring Pops by the Sea to Hyannis, served as president of the Hyannis Area Chamber of Commerce, and chaired the Hyannis Street Festival for six years. She served on and chaired the Cape Cod Economic Development Council for 20 years, including its license plate grants committee, and was a member of the Business Roundtable. Felicia served on the Foundation Board of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy for 20 years and was appointed to its Board of Trustees. She served on the marketing advisory committee of the Community Foundation of Cape Cod and was a founder of the Computers for Kids Fund. Felicia served on and chaired the Town of Barnstable Planning Board, the Barnstable County Health and Human Services Advisory Council, and the strategic planning, business, and philanthropy committees of the Housing Assistance Corporation. She was a Director of Cape Cod Bank and Trust and of The Nickerson Companies. In 2023, she was elected Hyannis Precinct 13 representative to the Barnstable Town Council. She considered it an honor to serve and did so until her death. What a record. What a history of contribution to this town. We are going to miss Felicia and we extend our sympathies to her husband Joe and her sister Jocelyn, who has been here by her side for many months.
President Tamash invited Rear Admiral Robinson to say a few words about Felicia Penn.
Next was Public Comment followed by Council Response to Public Comment.
President Tamash announced that Town Manager Mark Ells’s Town Manager Communications for the period of June 10, 2026 through June 23, 2026 had been pre-recorded and was shown on our Government Access Channel prior to the meeting.
Mr. Ells’s Town Manager Communications video may be viewed here and the itemized list is shared below:
- We remain on schedule with the budget action calendar. The Fiscal Year 2027 proposed operating budget is posted on the Town website. FY 2027 Operating Budget is available at the following link: https://city-barnstable-ma-cleardoc.cleargov.com/22636 Additionally, it can be accessed from the town’s Home, Finance and Town Manager’s pages. Hard copies of the budget document have been provided to the Town Council prior to the public hearings on the operating budget which commenced on June 11, 2026 and are scheduled to continue on June 25, 2026. The Fiscal Year 2027 Capital Improvement Plan is available on the Town’s website at the link provided. For information on our fiscal year budgets, please view the Town’s Open Budget website at http://budget.townofbarnstable.us.
- As stated in my last communication, the Town of Barnstable has processed the FY 2027 Preliminary Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Bills, which will be mailed to property owners shortly. Preliminary tax bills are calculated at 50% of the total taxes assessed for the previous fiscal year (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026).
Payment Due Dates:
First Installment: August 3, 2026
Second Installment: November 2, 2026
Payment Options:
By Mail:
Please mail payments to:
Town of Barnstable, PO Box 848213, Boston, MA 02284
Online:
Payments may be made online through Invoice Cloud Online Payment Portal using the “Pay Taxes” quick link on the town’s home page.
In Person:
Payments may be made at the Tax Collector’s Office:
Town Hall, 367 Main Street, Hyannis, MA 02601
For questions regarding your tax bill or payment options, please contact the Tax Collector’s Office at 508-862-4054
- As a reminder, the Town’s Open Budget website will be replaced with a new version of transparency software Provided by ClearGov in Fiscal Year 2027. The ClearGov solution will offer more robust financial visualizations of the town’s operating and capital budgets transforming data into dynamic, interactive visuals for residents to explore the budget at their own pace. The site will include an AI powered chatbot which can deliver instant responses which should help residents better understand budgets, spending, and financial priorities. We will keep you advised as this effort advances.
- Beginning on Saturday June 27th, Town of Barnstable beaches, ponds, and lakes will be open seven days a week through Labor Day. All beaches will be open daily from 9AM through 9PM. The Town of Barnstable will require resident parking permit stickers to be affixed to the appropriate vehicle starting this Saturday at all locations. Again, this season, receipts will not be accepted for access to Barnstable beaches. The Recreation Division has issued over 20,000 resident permits to date and staff are working diligently to finish the remaining applications. A reminder that on Friday, June 26th, all beaches will be without lifeguard coverage as our Aquatics Staff will be participating in joint training exercises with our local Fire Departments. This training will take place at Craigville Beach and parking in the East Lot will be restricted until 12:00pm. Additionally, coordination will continue throughout the summer with our lifeguards and local fire departments for scheduled drills to reinforce skills, build relationships and strengthen coordinated care across the town. This season we have faced significant challenges recruiting aquatic staff, specifically lifeguards. The Recreation Division is still finalizing staff schedules but anticipate having lifeguards starting on June 27th, at Craigville Beach, Dowses Beach, Covell’s Beach, and Kalmus Beach. To assist the public with their summer plans, we will continue to communicate our staffing operations and provide updates. We advise the public that due to limited staffing other sites will not have lifeguard coverage and swimmers will do so at their own risk.
- We want to let the Town Council and public know that in partnership with Advocates for Human Potential (AHP), our Notice for Funding Availability (NOFA) was released on Monday, June 15th through a media release and Constant Contact email list of all previous workshop and focus group attendees, grant recipients, and potential recipients. The NOFA has been posted to the Town Manager’s webpage. An Informational webinar hosted by AHP will be held on Thursday, June 25th for potential applicants. The grant round opens on July 1st and closes on July 30th. Awards are expected to be announced the week of August 31st. Applicants may submit questions regarding this funding opportunity following the informational webinar and through July 8 at 5:00 p.m. EDT. All questions must be submitted to: barnstableosf@ahpnet.com. Responses to all submitted questions will be compiled and published on the Town of Barnstable website to ensure consistent access to information.
- The Town of Barnstable is celebrating America’s 250th birthday on July 4th with a packed lineup featuring village parades, all-day entertainment on Main Street Hyannis, a harbor boat parade, Aselton Park concerts, and a state-of-the-art drone light show at sundown following the Hyannis Harbor Hawks Cape Cod Baseball League game will mark the historic milestone. Look for details and future announcements at com/BarnstableMA250
- Kelly Collopy, DPW Communications Manager, will provide a Water Resources Update including the Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan. Collopy’s PowerPoint presentation may be viewed here.
Act on Public Session Minutes: June 11, 2026
COMMUNICATIONS – from elected officials, boards, committees, and staff, commission reports, correspondence and announcements
Town Council Vice President Kris Clark mentioned the July 2nd reading of the Declaration of Independence by thirteen veterans and invited Planning & Development Director Jim Kupfer to give an update about what is happening for the 4th of July.
President Tamash took a number of items out of order.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-214 Resolve authorizing four Meacham-Crawford Scholarship Awards to Town of Barnstable graduating high school seniors for the purpose of defraying their post-secondary education tuition costs. Students receiving $10,000 scholarships are:
Briah Uhlman
Jack Bertling
Ava Przygoda
Harry Clark
Presented by Town Manager Mark Ells. The item was approved.
Motion to refer Items 2026-212, 2026-213, 2026-217, 2026-218 and 2026-219 as written, to a Second Reading to be held on each item at the Town Council meeting on July 16, 2026 was approved.
AGENDA ITEMS 2026-212 Appointments to a Board/Committee/Commission: District Improvement Financing Committee: Satchel Douglas, as a resident representing Precinct 9; Elizabeth Young, as a resident representing Precinct 13; and 2026-213 Reappointments to a Board/Committee/Commission: Board of Health: F.P.Tom Lee, as a regular member, to a term expiring 06/30/2029; Conservation Commission: John Abodeely, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2029; Disability Commission: Paul Logan, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2029; 2026-217 Order authorizing grants of easements for gas facilities to serve three sewer pump stations on town-owned land; 2026-218 Order authorizing grants of easements for electric facilities to serve three sewer pump stations on town-owned land; and 2026-219 Order authorizing the acquisition of an easement for sewer purposes on land at 272 South Main Street in Centerville were referred to Second Readings on 07/16/2026.
OLD BUSINESS
The Budget PowerPoint for the meeting on the Town Council webpage is a continuation of the PowerPoint posted on June 11, 2026.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-188 Appropriation Order in the amount of $3,157,921 for the Town’s Fiscal Year 2027 Inspectional Services Department Budget.
Presented by Assistant Director of Finance Gareth Markwell. Inspectional Services Director / Building Commissioner Brian Florence was available to answer Councilor questions. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-189 Appropriation Order in the amount of $2,459,418 for the Town’s Fiscal Year 2027 Planning and Development Department Budget.
Presented by Assistant Director of Finance Gareth Markwell. Planning & Development Jim Kupfer was available to answer Councilor questions. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-190 Appropriation Order in the amount of $273,810 for the Town’s Fiscal Year 2027 Town Council Budget.
Presented by Assistant Director of Finance Gareth Markwell. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-191 Appropriation Order in the amount of $1,454,093 for the Town’s Fiscal Year 2027 Town Manager Budget.
Presented by Assistant Director of Finance Gareth Markwell. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-192 Appropriation Order in the amount of $1,114,808 for the Town’s Fiscal Year 2027 Public, Education & Government (PEG) Access Channels Enterprise Fund Budget.
Presented by Assistant Director of Finance Gareth Markwell. Communications Director Lynne Poyant responded to Councilor questions. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-193 Appropriation Order in the amount of $9,048,060 for the Town’s Fiscal Year 2027 Administrative Services Department Budget.
Presented by Assistant Director of Finance Gareth Markwell. Town Manager Mark Ells, Finance Director Mark Milne, Town Attorney Karen Nober, IT Director Jim Benoit, and Human Resources Director Bill Cole were on hand to respond to Councilor questions. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-194 Appropriation Order in the amount of $250,000 for the Town Council’s Fiscal Year 2027 Reserve Fund.
Presented by Assistant Director of Finance Gareth Markwell. Finance Director Mark Milne responded to Councilor questions. The item was approved.
President Tamash recused himself from Agenda Item 2026-195.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-195 Appropriation Order in the amount of $62,794,395 for the Town’s Fiscal Year 2027 Other Requirements Budget.
Presented by Assistant Director of Finance Gareth Markwell. Finance Director Mark Milne and Mr. Markwell responded to Councilor questions. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-196 Appropriation Order pursuant to the provisions of General Law Chapter 44B Section 6, for the Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2026, the following sums of the Annual Revenues of the Community Preservation Fund be set aside for further appropriation and expenditure for the following purposes: $532,827 for open space and recreation; $532,827 for historic resources; $532,827 for community housing; $3,478,784 for a budget reserve, and that the sum of $250,000 be appropriated from the annual revenues of the Community Preservation Fund for the administrative expenses of the Community Preservation.
Presented by Assistant Director of Finance Gareth Markwell. Town Attorney Karen Nober and Finance Director Mark Milne responded to Councilor questions. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-197 Appropriation Order in the amount of $65,450 for the Fiscal Year 2027 Community Preservation Fund Debt Service Requirements.
Presented by Assistant Director of Finance Gareth Markwell. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-198 Fiscal Year 2027 Spending Limitations Revolving Funds.
Presented by Assistant Director of Finance Gareth Markwell. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-201 Order Amending Article II, Sewer Assessments, Chapter 184 Sewers and Water of the General Ordinances.
Motion to amend to add “provided that the percentage change is negative, there shall be no change” was approved.
Presented by Town Attorney Karen Nober. The item was approved as amended.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-202 Order altering the public roadway layout for South Street and Old Colony Road in Hyannis, and authorizing the acquisition or taking of easements by eminent domain in connection with such purposes.
Presented by First Assistant Town Attorney Tom LaRosa. Planning & Development Director Jim Kupfer and Town Engineer Griffin Beaudoin were available to respond to Councilor questions. The item was approved.
The PowerPoint for Agenda Items 2026-202 and 2026-215 may be viewed here.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-215 Order to petition the General Court of the Commonwealth to enact special legislation approving the grant of an easement or grant of location for public utilities over an area of public parkland in Hyannis.
Presented by First Assistant Town Attorney Tom LaRosa. Town Engineer Griffin Beaudoin and Town Manager Mark Ells responded to Councilor questions. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-205 Appointments to a Board/Committee/Commission: Comprehensive Financial Advisory Committee: Sherman Baldwin, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2029; Hyannis Main Street Waterfront Historic District Commission: Alan Feltham, as an alternate member to a term expiring 06/30/2029; Suzanne Welch, as an alternate member to a term expiring 06/30/2029.
The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-208 Reappointments to a Board/Committee/Commission: Airport Commission: John Flores, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2029; Comprehensive Financial Advisory Committee: Chris King, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2029; Conservation Commission: Angela Tangney as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2029; Council on Aging: Maureen Hughes, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2029; Janet Kraemer, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2029; Kathy Turnbull, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2029; Disability Commission: John Lundborn, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2029; Historical Commission: John Richmond, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2029; Robert Frazee, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2029; Housing Committee: Joseph Taccogna, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2029; Hilda Haye, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2029; Hyannis Main Street Waterfront Historic District Commission: Cornelius Cawley, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2029; David Wrenn, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2029; Conrad Watson, as an alternate member, to a term expiring 06/30/2029; Cheryl Powell, as a representative member to a term expiring 06/30/2029; Infrastructure and Energy Committee: Christopher Gloninger, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2029; Licensing Authority: Michael Trovato, as an associate member to a term expiring 06/30/2029; Open Space Committee: Elizabeth Lewis, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2029; Douglas Payson, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2026; Planning Board: Steve Robichaud, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2029; Tim O’Neill, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2029; Recreation Commission: Tony Lapolla, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2029; Sandy Neck Committee: Christina Carrington, as a recreation commission representative member to a term expiring 06/30/2029; Shellfish Committee: Timothy Hamel, as a commercially permitted resident, to a term expiring 06/30/2029; Zoning Board of Appeals: Emmanuel Alves, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2029; Aaron Webb, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2029.
The item was approved.
NEW BUSINESS
AGENDA ITEM 2026-216 Resolve ensuring compliance with evolving law and federal grant conditions.
Presented by Town Attorney Karen Nober. The item was approved.
The next regularly scheduled Town Council Meeting will be held on Thursday, July 16, 2026. The Town Council will hold a Special Town Council Meeting on Thursday, June 18, 2026. 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. Viewers can now watch BGA programming through our dedicated app available on both Apple and Android smartphones, as well as popular streaming platforms including Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire Stick. 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: Council@barnstable.gov. The meeting Agenda will be available on the Town of Barnstable’s website (www.barnstable.gov). If any member of the public wishing to attend this meeting seeks special accommodations in accordance with the American with Disabilities Act or state law, please contact Tammy Cunningham, Deputy Director of Human Resources, at (508) 862-4692, or at Tammy.Cunningham@barnstable.gov.
