Town Council Meeting – Thursday, April 16, 2026

Town Council Meeting – Thursday, April 16, 2026

The April 16, 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. The public was able to view the meeting on Barnstable Government Access (BGA) Xfinity Channel 8 or 1070 or in High Definition on Xfinity Channel 1072 or via the live stream through the Town website (www.barnstable.gov). Viewers may 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. Town Council President Craig Tamash chaired the meeting and called the meeting to order. President Tamash announced that Councilor Felicia Penn is participating remotely this evening and all votes will be via Roll Call. Town Clerk Ann Quirk took the Roll Call.

Town Councilor Betty Ludtke introduced John C. Swanson to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

John C. Swanson is a 59 year old United States Marine Corps veteran, who served four years in the Corps as an air conditioning refrigeration mechanic. He also served two years in the Army National Guard and has two honorable discharges. During his four years in the Corps, Corporal Swanson did a one year of duty in Okinawa Japan and returned to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina. There, he served with Marine Wing Support Squadron 271. With MWSS-271, the Squadron participated in CAX, a combined arms exercise in the Mojave Desert for six months. Corporal Swanson received a good conduct medal and was an expert marksman along with numerous meritorious masts and commendations. His brother, retired Gunnery Sergeant James A. Swanson, served twenty years in Corps and has worked for the Government for another twenty years. John is extremely proud of his Irish twin brother and thankful they both made it home. John and his brother served together in CAX in the Mojave Desert in 1988. John currently lives in Centerville and is married to an amazing beautiful nurse who makes a difference in many patients’ lives every day. John has two adult children and two stepchildren that are a true blessing. John is a superintendent with Robert B. Our. John volunteers with the Nicholas G. Xiarhos Memorial Fund and participates in Heroes in Transition, Josh’s Boots, and 22Kill. 22Kill is named after a 2012 statistic from the Department of Veterans Affairs that stated that an average of 22 veterans were dying from suicide daily. John loves to help fellow veterans and wants everyone know it is an honor to be here and he thanks you. Let’s welcome Corporal John C Swanson to lead us in the pledge of allegiance this evening.

President Tamash asked all to remain standing for a Moment of Silence and asked that we remember those who gave their lives in service to our country.

President Tamash moved to go into EXECUTIVE SESSION pursuant to G.L. c. 30A, Section 21(a)(3) to discuss strategy with respect to potential litigation related to federal grant conditions since a discussion in open session may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the Town and Town Council.

The Council returned to PUBLIC SESSION after the Executive Session.

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

Town Manager Mark Ells and Planning & Development Director Jim Kupfer responded to public comment.

Councilor Penn left the meeting.

President Tamash announced that Town Manager Mark Ells’s Town Manager Communications for the period of March 25 through April 14, 2026 had been pre-recorded and was shown on our Government Access Channel prior to the meeting. The recorded version of Mr. Ells’s Town Manager Communications video may be viewed here and the itemized list is shared below:

We have commenced review of the FY 2027 Capital Budget and continue with the preparation of the Operating Budget for FY 2027. We remain on schedule with the budget action calendar. Town Council hearings on the recommended FY 2027 Capital Budget commenced March 26, 2026. The Fiscal Year 2027 Capital Improvement Plan is available on the Town’s website at the link provided and printed copies have been provided to the Town Council. On April 1, 2026 the School Committee voted to adopt their proposed FY2027 School Operating Budget, and their proposed operating budget shall be included in the Town Manager proposed FY 2027 Operating Budget scheduled to be submitted to Town Council on May 13, 2026. The Town Manager Fiscal Year 2027 Proposed Fee Hearing was conducted on March 17, 2026. The proposed FY 2027 fees are posted on the Town Manager’s webpage. Comments may be submitted by Thursday, April 16th. For information on our fiscal year budgets, please view the Town’s Open Budget website at http://budget.townofbarnstable.us.
On April 10, 2026, I submitted a letter to the President of the Massachusetts Senate (attached) in support of S.3050, An Act to Build Resilience for Massachusetts Communities, which provides for a program of climate change adaptation, resiliency and the preservation and improvement of environmental and recreation assets of the Commonwealth, including, in particular, a $450 million bonding authorization (Section 2E Line Item 0640-1008) for clean drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.

As I have explained in previous communications, the capacity of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) to support projects through the Clean Water Intended Use Plan (IUP) is of critical concern on Cape Cod as any decrease in funding capacity will significantly impact the ability of our communities to implement priority water quality projects. The SRF is facing real challenges. The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Job’s Act (IIJA) provided unprecedented levels of federal funding for the SRF, resulting in a spike in projects supported through the program. However, IIJA funding is set to expire in 2026, and federal base grants have continued to decrease; this will result in a decrease in the amount of funding the SRF will be able to offer to communities in future IUPs. Additionally, a significant portion of the SRF’s capacity will be allocated toward previously approved projects moving through their multi-year project delivery process in the upcoming years. With more resources needed to support these continuing projects, there will be less capacity available to fund new projects in subsequent IUPs. Further, increasing project costs and larger, more complex projects, such as nitrogen remediation on Cape Cod are placing additional pressure on available resources.

I note that I also serve on the board of the Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund (the “Fund”), which was established by the Massachusetts Legislature in 2018 to help Cape Cod and Islands towns to pay for necessary wastewater infrastructure and water quality remediation projects. Since its inception, the Fund has awarded more than $300 million in subsidies to wastewater and water quality projects in 13 of the 15 Cape Cod communities. However, access to the 25% subsidy provided by the Fund is contingent on SRF financing; therefore, the negative impact of limited SRF capacity is amplified on Cape Cod, and its effect on the ability of Barnstable and other Cape towns to advance water pollution abatement efforts cannot be overstated. I will keep you advised as this bill moves out of the Senate to the House for further consideration.

On April 13, 2026, the Executive Committee of the Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund, on which I serve, submitted a letter (attached) to the President of the Senate in support of the authorization included in S.3050 for the State Revolving Fund (SRF). As explained above, these funds are critical to sustaining the capacity of SRF in the future.
I have recently been asked questions by our residents regarding why the Town is implementing a Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan (CWMP). The Town website has a Barnstable Water Resources webpage full of information regarding the CWMP along with many other water resource related issues. The CWMP is a regulatory requirement of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to address nutrient loading to our coastal embayments. The primary nutrient of concern to saltwater bodies is nitrogen. The primary source of nitrogen is human urine. The primary method of disposal of human urine in Barnstable is through Title 5 septic systems. Title 5 systems do not remove nitrogen from our urine to a level that keeps our saltwater bays healthy. Therefore, the CWMP is a Town- and State-approved plan to restore our saltwater bodies over a 30-year period. To remain compliant with State regulations we need to proceed with the CWMP. For more information, please visit the Town of Barnstable website.
I have also been asked if the Town Manager has commenced renegotiation discussions with Park City Wind regarding their proposed offshore wind project. I have not engaged in renegotiations nor will I without authorization of the Town Council. I will keep the Town Council and public advised if any future requests or information is provided relative to this proposed project.

Town Manager Ells responded to Councilor questions.

Act on Public Session Minutes: March 26, 2026

COMMUNICATIONS – from elected officials, boards, committees, and staff, commission reports, correspondence and announcements

FISCAL POLICY AND REVENUE STRATEGY

Mark Milne, Finance Director; Karen Nober, Town Attorney; Ann Quirk, Town Clerk

The Fiscal Policy and Revenue Strategy PowerPoint may be viewed here.

President Tamash took a number of items out of order.

Town Councilor John Crow left the meeting.

AGENDA ITEM 2026-160 Order authorizing the execution and amendment of a concession license at the Hyannis Golf Course with a total term not-to-exceed six years.

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

NEW BUSINESS

AGENDA ITEM 2026-161 Authorization to contract for and expend a Fiscal Year 2026 Community Compact grant in the amount of $100,000 from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executive Office for Administration and Finance to assist with digital accessibility improvements.

Presented by Jim Benoit, IT Director. The Item was approved.

AGENDA ITEM 2026-162 Authorization to contract for and expend funds from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities in the amount of $150,000 for the First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program.

Presented by Jim Kupfer, Planning & Development Director. The Item was approved.

AGENDA ITEM 2026-163 Authorization to contract for and expend a Fiscal Year 2026 Grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Waste Site Cleanup in the amount of $20,000 for the purpose of technical review and public engagement of disposal site cleanup response actions at the Barnstable County Fire & Rescue Training Academy disposal site.

Presented by Assistant DPW Director Rob Steen. The Item was approved.

AGENDA ITEMS 2026-164 Appropriation Order in the amount of $400,000 for the Hyannis West Elementary School Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Design Project and 2026-165 Appropriation order in the amount of $200,000 for the Barnstable United Elementary School Pipe Wrapping Project referred to individual Public Hearings 04/30/2026.

OLD BUSINESS

FY2027 CIP Cape Cod Gateway Airport Presentation may be viewed here.

Presented by Mike Nelson, Cape Cod Gateway Airport Manager

AGENDA ITEM 2026-131 Appropriation Order in the amount of $165,000 for the purpose of funding the PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) Phase V Project as outlined in the Fiscal Year 2027 – Fiscal Year 2031 Capital Improvement Plan.